Star Wars Alternate: The Unknown Awakens

by LunarNight27

A different versions of episode VII. Peace between the New Republic and newly reformed United Imperial Worlds. However, years of devastating battles and losses have left both governments at risk. A silent enemy: The First Order has awakened. Already the enemy has struck against the two governments. They must unite to stand against an enemy as mysterious as the Unknown Region.

3. Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

ABANDONED STAR DESTROYER BRIDGE

The front half of a different star destroyer sits mostly intact on the sands. The destroyer has been converted into an apartment like building. An old large speeder bike appears to be heading towards it, but turns away as it draws closer. It continues a short distance before stopping at the remains of a desolate looking structure. The driver carefully maneuvers the bike into the structure. Then she gets off and then helps BB-8 get off the bike. Rey is wearing her staff across her back and she still has the bag from earlier slung across her shoulder.

Rey's face is wrapped and she's wearing goggles to protect herself from the sun and sand.

BB-8 twitters a question.

Rey: (as she unwraps her face and removes her goggles) "Of course it doesn't look like much."

Gaps in the ceiling let in small patches of light, but it's so dark that BB-8 turns on a headlamp. The light reveals an enormous messy space. Debris is everywhere and anything of value has been stripped away. BB-8 carefully maneuvers around fallen objects and damaged equipment as the droid follows Rey deeper and deeper into the wreck of the star destroyer bridge. Rey crouches down near a debris filled corner and hefts up a fallen piece of equipment. Underneath is a handle and keypad.

BB-8 snorts an opinion about the condition of the place.

Rey: "This is the bridge from the other half of that star destroyer, and underneath it" (she twists a handle and enters a code on the panel next to it) "is my home."

A section of the floor lifts up and blocks the entryway while a wall that had appeared to be solid suddenly swings in to reveal a lit corridor with a turbolift at the end. Rey enters. BB-8 whistles in admiration as he follows. The door closes.

REY'S HOME

Turbolift doors slide open and Rey and BB-8 walk into a large well lit opened organized room. Rey puts her quarter staff down against a wall. Rey's bunk can be seen in a far corner. On one of the walls is a strange looking computer and control panel that Rey built herself. It's on and the lights are all indicating green. BB-8 happily rolls around the room chirping in wonder. He stops and beeps a question.

Rey: "I rerouted the power cords to work on solar."

BB-8 chirps another question

Rey: "No, I'm not worried about the solar panels getting stolen. Everyone knows better than to steal from me."

BB-8 beeps again asking for a reason

Rey: (with great conviction) "For the same reason that you'll be safe here. No one takes what is mine."

BB-8 twills as he rolls away to explore more. Rey walks over to a wall and pulls out a hidden pantry. There are only a few ration packages left. Rey's shoulders sag and she looks tired. She looks at BB-8. Then lightly shakes her head. She walks over to where she put her staff and slings it across her back. BB-8 notices and twills a question.

Rey crouches down to BB-8's level. The droid rolls up to her.

Rey: "I'm going out for supplies and information. It will take a while since I'll have to go to a different supply shop. You stay here where it's safe."

BB-8 chirps sadly as Rey starts to walk away. She turns to look at him.

Rey: "I've set traps throughout this destroyer, so stay in this room. I promise I'll be back"

CRASH SITE OF THE SCOUT SHIP

Finn opens his eyes. He is upside-down inside the escape pod. There is a small square of light glowing on an emergency panel near the door handle. Finn fumbles to unstrap himself and get out of the pod. He stumbles and falls ungracefully from the pod. The flight suit and Poe's jacket fall on top of him. He looks around and sees no sign of the ship, which has long stopped smoking, or Poe.

Finn: (cupping his hands around his mouth) "Poe! Poe! Poe!"

There's no response. Finn looks anxious as he takes a couple of steps in various directions uncertain since his pod is lying at the bottom of a huge crater and the wind has swept away all indications of which direction the pod traveled. The sun is beating down and sweat is already forming on his face. He returns to the pod, strips off the outer flight suit, rips the green strips off his gray pants, moves to throw them away, but can't, so he puts them in the pocket of Poe's jacket before putting it on to cover up the First Order symbol on the back on his uniform.

JAKKU DESERT

Rey is speeding across the sand on her large speeder bike.

Her face is again wrapped and she's wearing goggles.

Far behind her is a small supply shop. She scans around her as she continues to travel. She notices in the distance far to her left something waving something. She turns her vehicle and heads towards the figure. As she draws near, the figure stops waving a jacket and puts it on himself quickly. Rey pulls up in front of Finn.

Finn: "Thank you for stopping. Please, I need directions to the city?"

Rey: (slightly muffled voice) "Which city?"

Finn: "A large city with lots of people."

Rey: "Jukken is the largest city on the planet. It's too far from here to walk. There's a market village called Akki two clicks that direction" (she points a different way than the one he had been heading)

Finn: "Thank you so much"

He begins to walk away in the direction she pointed.

Rey: "Wait!"

She reaches into a compartment of her large old speeder bike and throws him a canteen of water: "You'll need this"

Finn takes it. Rey revs up her engines and leaves. Finn watches her drive away before turning and walking towards Akki.

REY'S HOME

Rey is approaching her home on her transport. She stops suddenly when she notices two dozen land speeders near the remains of the derelict bridge. Recognizing one of the land speeders as belonging to a scavenger who was at the supple shop when she had refused to sell BB-8, she turns her speeder slightly away from the bridge. She stops at a point that seem indiscernible from the rest of the dessert. Pulling out a control from her large old speeder bike, she enters a code. The sand rumbles and then two doors swing open to reveal a small turbolift. Rey gets in and the doors close behind her.

It is very dark inside the destroyer, but Rey moves with a confidence that shows incredible familiarity. Suddenly, there is a blaster shot followed by a scream. Moving carefully, Rey moves closer until she's at a place where she can see and hear the intruders, but they can't see her. One is lying dead on the floor. A second is ripping a hidden blaster from the wall while the third removes the headlamp the dead scavenger was wearing as well as any other valuables. The one ripping the blaster from the wall also has a headlamp while the other only has a light at the end of his blaster. Rey recognizes one of the scavengers from the supply shop when she refused to sell BB-8.

Scavenger 1: "Traps!"

Scavenger 2: (looking at the body) "Rumors said tis death to cross this one. Rumors are true."

Scavenger 1: "Perhaps, but it's worth two months' of portions. For that price, I'd cross a crime lord myself."

The scavengers move on carefully. Rey waits until they are gone before swinging down into the corridor and entering a secret hallway via a hidden door.

REY'S ROOM

BB-8 is rolling around Rey's room when a panel on the wall suddenly shudders. BB-8 rolls to hide behind a crate as a panel on the wall swings open and Rey steps out.

Rey: (quietly) "BB-8? BB-8?"

BB-8 comes out of hiding twittering and beeping. She quickly checks him over.

Rey: "Come on we're leaving. I couldn't find anything about an Imperial agent, so I'll make sure you get off world to save your family"

She stands and goes over to her control board. She quickly enters several commands. Red lights begin flashing across the screen.

BB-8 warbles a question about what she's done.

Rey: "Reminding them that no one takes from me."

Rey and BB-8 quickly leave the destroyer. Several groups of intruders are carefully making their way through the ship when suddenly the lights take on a faint glow. The intruders look at the lights and as they do so, the lights flare with intense sun like brightness—the intruders scream in pain.

OUTSIDE REY'S HOME

BB-8 twills a question about the intruders

Rey: "They'll be blind for a couple of days only if lucky."

BB-8 chirps his understanding about why no one takes from Rey.

Rey: "I defend what's mine."

BB-8 asks what they are going to do now.

Rey: "First, I'm going back in to get supplies. Then I'm taking you somewhere safe."

AKKI

Akki is a small market village. There are no buildings, but about four dozen merchants have set up temporary booths and tents in a flea market like setting all on one side of a large open well/fountain. There are only a half or dozen or so Frist Order troops, but they are systematically searching the entire market and coming closer to where Finn is resting near the edge of the market in the shade from one of the stands. Poe's jacket is zipped all the up to hide his uniform. As he looks around while trying to calm himself—telling himself that they won't recognize him as a deserter—he sees the person who gave him both directions and the water canteen struggling to get a basket down from her land speeder. There are three other similar baskets hanging from the speeder. Finn's fingers brush against the water canteen Rey had given him earlier remembering her kindness before deciding to help. He walks over to her.

Finn (as he grabs a handle of the basket that Rey almost has on the ground) "Here, let me help you."

Rey reacts by letting go of the basket. The weight surprised Finn and he barely manages to not drop it; however the lid gets knocked off slightly. As he gets the basket safely on the ground, he gets hit across his shoulders by Rey's staff. He falls to the ground—knocking over the basket in the process. Rey brings her staff up to bear, but stops as she suddenly recognizes Finn.

Rey: "It's you." (she slightly relaxes) "I'm sorry. I thought you were trying to take my basket"

Finn: "It's alright. I should have…." (he catches sight of the open basket and BB-8 hidden inside.) "BB-8!"

Rey pushes her staff into Finn's shoulder preventing him from getting off the ground while glancing around quickly. Only after seeing that the First Order troops are still only halfway through searching the market and still a fair distance from them, does she turn to Finn, "How do you know BB-8's name?"

As BB-8 gives out a sudden electronic squeal about Finn's jacket.

Rey: "Where did you get that jacket? He says it belongs to his family."

Finn: "It belongs to a man I rescued…we got separated. I don't know where he is."

BB-8 twitters a request for a name

Finn: "Poe."

Rey backs off and allows Finn to stand. She keeps her staff out and ready if needed.

He looks around to make sure there are no First Order troopers in earshot.

Finn: "You helped me, so let me warn you that you're in danger. The First Order is after that droid and they are willing to kill to get it."

Rey: "Who are you?"

Finn: (thinking fast) "I'm with the Empire."

Rey: (hint of suspicion) "The Empire? You're an Imperial agent?"

Finn: "No…I'm more of a scout of sorts."

Rey shoulders her staff: "BB-8 needs to get back home. I promised I'd help."

Finn: "You can't. There are troops all over and a blockade in space."

Rey: (determined) "I promised to help and I will."

Finn: "How?" (making a small gesturing towards both the First Order troopers and a fighter ship that is flying a defense pattern overhead)

Rey: "There's a ship on the other side of the market. It's a hunk of junk, but I hear it belongs to a smuggler."

Finn: "A smuggler? How does that help?"

Rey: "Smugglers are always running blockades and getting past security. They have secret compartments or something to hide cargo, so all I have to do is convince the pilot to take BB-8 off world."

Finn: "What if the pilot says no? Wouldn't it be easier (gesturing towards her land speeder) to hide somewhere out in the desert?"

Rey: (looks up as another fighter sores high overhead and shakes her own head) "You can't hide in an open desert."

Finn looks embarrassed by his ignorant suggestion.

Rey: "As for the pilot, (she cracks her knuckles) I'll convince him one way or another."

Finn: (shocked and speechless by what's he's heard) "Why? Why go so far to help?"

Rey: "It's the right thing to do."

Finn pauses hearing his own earlier reason thrown back at him. He knows Rey means it.

Finn: "I'll help you." (the words seem pulled out of him and even Finn is surprised)

Rey looks surprised.

Finn: "I'm in as much trouble as that droid if the First Order finds me, so I'll help."

Rey looks at BB-8 who toots approval. She looks Finn in the eyes and holds out her hand: "I'm Rey."

Finn: (after a moment of hesitation he takes her hand): "I'm Finn"

MARKET AT AKKI

Rey puts down an upside down basket next to a stall that is two rows over from the main market walkway before walking over to Finn who is standing next to her land speeder with the other baskets. Finn already has a basket on his back. Rey puts a basket on her back along with her staff. Then she and Finn pick up a basket between them.

Both Rey and Finn have scarves wrapped around their faces. Finn's is wrapped so that only his eyes are visible. Rey's scarves are a bit looser. Rey is walking hunched over and using her staff to support her as if she is crippled.

They walk down the main section of the market straight towards one of the First Order Troopers. In the distance, an old disc shaped freighter can be seen. As they approach, the First Order trooper places himself directly in their path.

First Order Trooper E: "Halt!"

Rey and Finn both stop.

Four other troopers are in the background searching through or questioning others at the market.

First Order Trooper E: "Open the baskets!"

Rey and Finn set down their baskets. Then Rey eagerly steps forwards: (speaking in a false eager voice) "Nice trooper. Wish to buy! Pretty things I show only you."

Finn grunts while removing the lid from one of the baskets and pulling out some equipment Rey had had in her land speeder. Then he thrust it into the trooper's face.

First Order Trooper E: (pushing the piece of equipment out of his face) "Show me what's in your baskets."

Rey: (false eager voice) "Yes, show, show."

Another trooper come up as Finn removes the lids from the other two baskets and steps back to let the trooper examine the contents. The first trooper shuffles through the junk while the other watches Finn and Rey. Two rows over, a similar basket to the one Finn and Rey were dragging is carefully moving while keeping several steps behind Rey and Finn. The first trooper finishes examining the three baskets and shakes his head at his comrade.

First Order Trooper F: "Move along."

Rey (false voice with dismay) "You look. You buy."

First Order Trooper F: "Move it!"

Finn grunts as he carefully puts the lids back on all three baskets. He puts one of the baskets back on his back and grunts while motioning Rey should do the same. As she places the basket back on her shoulders, she surveys the area—specifically where the slowly moving basket is located—and notes the location of all the First Order troopers. Nodding slightly to Finn, the pair continues only a few steps past the First Order troopers who searched the basket. Then Rey pulls out and pushes a detonation switch. An explosion shatters the air as Rey's land speeder explodes. People scream and panic. Rey and Finn throw themselves to the ground as others dive under tables or scramble to get away. All the First Order troopers take cover—their entire focus on the explosion. As the speeder explodes, the slowly moving basket two rows over puts on a burst of speed that puts it slightly ahead of Finn and Rey. Finn helps Rey off the ground. Rey glances quickly at the First Order troopers and noting that their attention is firmly elsewhere, she swiftly places the basket she and Finn had been dragging next to the nearest market stall (whose owner is hiding underneath). A second explosion from the speeder sends several people running including Rey and Finn—though they cut through the market directly towards the previously self-moving basket. Once they get to it, they turn it right side up (it was upside down so that BB-8 could use the opening to move) and drag it further away. In the midst of all the panic, they get free of the market stalls and are climbing a small hill up to the plateau where the ship is located when Finn suddenly trips on loose sand. He drops the basket and rolls down the hill. His scarf unravels and falls off his face. The green stripes he's stashed in his pockets earlier fall out without him noticing. The sudden weight of the dropped basket throws Rey and she also loses her grip and falls. Her scarf loosens, but doesn't fall. The basket with BB-8 rolls down the hill and splits open against the pole of a market stand. The owner of the stand looks over and recognizes BB-8.

Market Stand Owner: (yelling) "Droid! Droid! Droid is here!"

Small alien creature with desert fox like features

Rey dumps the basket from her back as she leaps to her feet. She rushes over and knocks out the little creature with her staff. She looks up to see at least three others staring at her and BB-8. Two start running towards her while the other calls out to her comrades. Rey pounds her fist against the market stand. Finn comes up behind her. He has also gotten rid of the basket on his back. He too realizes that it's too late to stop them.

Rey: "Get to the ship. Now!"

BB-8 rolls free of the basket and heads straight for the ship. Rey shoves Find towards the ship.

The ship is the Millennial Falcon.

Finn: "What about the pilot?"

They clear the small hill and sprint for the ship. A First Order Fighter flies low overhead a short distance away. One of the troopers following them stops and make a call to the fighter. The fighter halts, and turns back around.

Rey: (Seeing the fighter inbound) "Forget the pilot! Find the quad lasers!"

BB-8 has reached the ramp and rolled up into the ship. Finn follows a few seconds later. Rey halts right before the ramp and surveys the area. Three First Order troopers with more further behind are racing towards the ship bearing blasters. The fighter is holding position above, but it hasn't yet fired.

INSIDE THE MILLENNIUM FALCON

Finn: (running through the Falcon looking for the blaster turrets) (muttering) "Quad lasers, quad lasers, quad lasers."

He runs into the gun turret area. Realizing that he's found the quad lasers, he grabs onto the ladder and climbs up into the dorsal quad lasers.

OUTSIDE/INSIDE THE MILLENNIUM FLACON

The First Order troopers have brought out their blasters and one fires at Rey. The shot misses. Rey turns and runs up the ramp. She then slaps the controls to raise the ramp and lock it. She runs off in the opposite direction Finn had initially run.

Rey is in the cargo hold when a blast from topside suddenly rocks the ship.

Rey: (growls) "Where's the cockpit?"

She runs back the way she'd come. As she passes the ramp door, the sound of blasters can be heard from the other side. She enters the gun well bay. As she does, the ship shakes as it lifts off the ground. Rey grabs the ladder for support. Then realizing that the ship is airborne, Rey throws her staff, scarf, and goggles to the side and slides down to the lower quad lasers.

Rey: (muttering) "Told him to find the quad lasers-not to fly the ship."

She straps herself in and puts on the comset.

Rey: (into the com-headset) "Finn, are you there?"

Finn: (over the com-headset) "Yeah, I'm here."

Rey: (into the com-headset) "Where's that fighter."

Finn: "I see it."

Rey: "Move to get it then."

INSIDE THE UPPER GUN TURRET AND OUTSIDE THE FALCON

Finn struggles to operate the quad lasers. He pushes a couple of buttons when the targeting computer auto mode activates. The gun swivels straight up and the targeting computer locks onto the fighter. Finn pushes a couple of buttons uncertain which is the firing one. He finally figures out how to fire. He jerks the controls as he fires. The blast hit the engine. It doesn't destroy the fighter, but it forces it to crash land. The Falcon is now clear to fly.

OUTSIDE THE FALCON

The Falcon has gained altitude and is weaving to dodge shots from two incoming fighters. The two new fighters are coming in and firing from the opposite direction for a pincer movement. The Falcon suddenly turns and heads directly for one of the fighters. As it gets close, the Falcon dives underneath.

Rey: (into the com-headset) "Watch it Finn! There's one above us!"

INSIDE FINN'S GUN TURRET

Finn: (into his com-headset) "I see it."

The Falcon's targeting computer locks onto the First Order fighter and Finn fires the blasters. Again, he only damages—forcing the pilot to land—the fighter.

OUTSIDE THE FALCON

The First Order fighter dives for a crash landing. The Falcon swings around exposing its undercarriage to the other fighter. The fighter fires and scores a few hits. A few shots from the Falcon miss the fighter. The Falcon swings past the fighter. Both ships turn and level off to face each other. The Falcon weaves up and down dodging incoming blaster fire until it suddenly turns hard to the left giving the lower quad laser a perfect shot.

INSIDE REY'S GUN TURRET

The computer locks onto the fighter and Rey fires.

OUTSIDE THE FALCON

The second fighter wing breaks off and the pilot is forced to eject. The Falcon climbs higher as it heads for space.

INSIDE THE FALCON GUN WELL AREA

Finn and Rey cheer. They take off their com-headsets and unstrap themselves. Rey begins climbing up the ladder while Finn begins climbing down. Rey grabs onto a rung slightly above the floor level with her left hand. Finn's left foot comes down and steps right on top of her hand.

Rey: (cry of pain) "ahhh"

Finn's right foot is already in motion when Rey's cry startles him. He instinctively pulls up his left foot and tries to find footing with his right, but it lands a rung further than he expected and in surprise, he lets go of the ladder. He falls to the floor. Rey scrambles up the rest of the way.

Rey: "Are you alright?"

Finn: (slowly getting up while holding his side) "Yeah" (trying to lighten the mood) "I don't usually spend this much time on the ground." (fully on his feet) "Your hand okay?"

Rey: (looks at her fingers—they are slightly red, but there is no pain when she moves her fingers) "They're fine."

Finn: "Oh good."

Small pause of awkward silence as Finn tries to covertly rub his bruised side while Rey keeps moving her fingers. Rey walks over to wear she threw her staff. It rolls slightly as the ship turns. Seeing this, Rey realizes something.

Rey: "Finn? Who's flying the ship?"

Finn: "What?"

Rey: (angrily and slightly scared) "Who's flying the ship? You and I were both in the gun turrets, so who's flying the ship?"

Finn: (very uncertain) "the…smuggler?"

Rey looks slightly alarmed at this possibility. She picks up and grips her staff more firmly before marching cautiously towards the cockpit. Finn quickly glances around before following.

COCKPIT OF THE MILLENIUM FALCON

Rey with her staff out and ready for attack or defense burst into the cockpit. Finn is nowhere to be seen. She turns and confirms that the entire cockpit is empty.

Rey (slightly spooked) "Finn, there's no one here."

Finn doesn't answer.

Rey: "Finn?"

No answer

Rey: (as she exits the cockpit) (a bit more spooked) "Finn"

There is no one to be seen in either the cockpit or the dimly lit hallway exiting out of the cockpit. Rey pauses about five feet out of the cockpit wonder what to do now. Suddenly, Rey feels danger. She turns with inhuman reflexes and bring her staff up barely in time to stop a large hairy arm from grabbing her. Behind the large hairy figure, a panel on the wall is open revealing a hidden hiding space. The hairy arms lifts the staff high in the air. Rey kicks out hard with her feet hitting the hairy figure hard in the chest.

Hairy figure: roars in pain

Rey uses the momentum of her kick to push out. The creature's other arm swipes empty air where she had just been. Rey swings back in and kicks the creature even harder than before.

Hairy figure growls in pain. Suddenly he lets go of Rey's staff. Rey lands on her feet, but slightly unbalanced. The figure reaches out both arms to tear her apart when

Male voice: "Hold"

The lights in the hallways flare slightly brighter. The hairy figure—revealed to be the Wookie Chewbacca—freezes. Rey also stops as Finn steps out from around the corner with Han Solo's blaster pointed at his head.

Han: "You've got nice moves kid, but you really don't want to make a Wookie angry."