KYLO REN
Inside the foreboding confines of the Star Destroyer's main bridge, Captain Phasma and General Hux convened, their attention fixed on a holographic projection elucidating FN-2187's intricate service records.
"FN-2187 reported to my division, was evaluated and sent to Reconditioning," Captain Phasma asserted, her metallic armor gleaming ominously in the bridge's stark lighting.
General Hux, standing resolute, probed for any inkling of the trooper's deviation from the First Order's stringent conformity.
"No prior signs of non-conformity?" Hux inquired, seeking assurance that the rebellion within their ranks had not been festering unnoticed.
"This was his first offense," Captain Phasma disclosed, her stoic demeanor betraying no hint of remorse.
A diligent technician, engrossed in her readings, interrupted their conversation with a grave report.
"General. They've been hit," the technician announced, relaying information crucial to the First Order's continued pursuit.
Hux, unwavering in the face of adversity, sought clarification with a single word.
"Destroyed?" he queried, contemplating the repercussions of such an outcome.
The technician, engrossed in her readings, countered the assumption.
"Disabled. They were headed back to Jakku -- the fighter's projected to crash in the Goazon badlands," she detailed, offering a glimpse into the unfolding crisis.
Hux, his mind sharp and calculating, deduced the troopers' motive for returning to Jakku.
"They were going back for the droid -- send a squad to the wreckage," Hux commanded, understanding the significance of the mission and the potential threat posed by the droid they sought. The First Order mobilized to secure the wreckage in the Goazon badlands.
FINN
Under the unforgiving sun of Jakku's desert, Finn woke, his eyes flickered open, transitioning abruptly from unconsciousness to stark awareness. The vast expanse of dunes stretched endlessly before him, and he found himself at the center of a desert, where the wind carried the remnants of a black chute and scattered debris.
His gaze fixed on the rising black smoke over distant dunes. Urgency gripped him, and he called out into the arid expanse, hoping against hope.
"Poe! Poe!"
Scrambling over massive dunes, Finn reached the source of the smoke – the TIE Fighter, now engulfed in flames. Desperation etched his face as he pulled on what seemed to be Poe's arm, only to find it was just the jacket. The heat and smoke thwarted his attempts to see inside the wreckage.
"Poe!!! POE!"
The sands beneath the TIE Fighter began to swallow it, sinking like quicksand, threatening to consume everything in its grasp. Finn, realizing the peril, retreated, watching in horror as the ship vanished into the sandy abyss. An explosion erupted from below, sending a shower of sand and debris into the air.
Alone, disoriented, and defeated, Finn walked away from the sinking fields. Stripping off his Stormtrooper gear, he found solace in Poe's flight jacket, a tangible link to the comrade he had lost.
Exhausted and defeated, Finn trudged through the endless dunes, each step a testament to the harsh reality of his situation. The relentless sun beat down on him, casting shadows that whispered tales of desolation and survival.
Miles ahead, the silhouette of Niima Outpost emerged on the horizon, a distant beacon in the vastness of the desert. Finn, driven by an uncertain fate, pressed on, each step echoing the profound solitude of Jakku's endless sands. The journey across the desolate landscape continued, an odyssey marked by echoes of the past and the promise of an uncertain future.
KYLO REN
On the bridge of the Star Destroyer, a tension-laden exchange unfolded between General Hux and Kylo Ren. The air carried the weight of Supreme Leader Snoke's directives as they traversed the expanse of the bridge.
"Supreme Leader Snoke was explicit," General Hux asserted, his determination cutting through the air. "Capture the droid if we can, but destroy it if we must."
Kylo Ren, a figure cloaked in darkness, questioned the capabilities of Hux's soldiers. The general, brimming with defiance, defended the exceptional training and unswerving loyalty of his troops. Mentions of a clone army only fueled Hux's indignation, emphasizing that his soldiers were not just trained but programmed from birth.
Yet, Kylo Ren, enigmatic and confrontational, probed further. "Then they should have no problem retrieving the droid. Unharmed," he declared, leaving the fate of the elusive map hanging in the balance.
"Careful, Ren," General Hux retorted with venom in his words. "That your 'personal interests' not interfere with orders from Leader Snoke."
"I want that map. For your sake, I suggest you get it," Kylo Ren warned, leaving Hux seething with resentment as he departed. The shadows of command loomed large on the Star Destroyer's bridge, casting an ominous pall over the First Order's pursuit of the crucial map.
FINN AND REY
In the blistering heat of Niima Outpost, Finn stumbled out of the unforgiving desert and into a chaotic marketplace. Merchants, scavengers, and tented stalls created a vibrant yet harsh atmosphere. His plea for water echoed through the crowded scene.
"Water... water... water..."
A filthy water trough, occupied by a slobbering Happabore, drew Finn's attention. In a heat-induced daze, he approached, using his hands to drink the murky water. Disgusted yet driven by thirst, he returned for more.
Meanwhile, amidst the commotion, Rey knelt beside BB-8, a droid emitting urgent beeps. Confronted by Unkar's thugs, Rey resisted, causing metal urns to crash to the ground. Finn, still grappling with the Happabore, found himself on the dusty ground, drawn to the distant turmoil.
Through the labyrinth of tents, Finn witnessed Rey's unexpected combat skills. She fought with a ferocity that contradicted her appearance, defeating her assailants and sending them sprawling into the sand. Stunned, Finn became a bystander in this unfolding drama.
Rey, victorious, turned her attention to the covered BB-8. As she unveiled the droid, Finn's eyes widened in disbelief—it was Poe's droid. This revelation marked the beginning of a sequence of events that would intertwine their fates.
Rey questioned BB-8 about Finn, and her decision to charge at him with a quarterstaff set off a chase through the tent marketplace. Fleeing, Finn was caught and subdued by Rey.
On the sandy ground, Rey interrogated Finn about theft, and BB-8, with a welding arm, enforced the questioning. Caught in a dilemma, Finn chose truth over deception.
"It belonged to Poe Dameron. He was captured by the First Order. I helped him escape, but our ship crashed. Poe didn't make it. Look, I tried to help him. I'm sorry..."
Rey's sympathy emerged, and Finn, thinking on his feet, lied about his allegiance.
"So you're with the Resistance?" Rey inquired.
"Obviously. Yes. I am. I'm with the Resistance, yeah. I'm with the Resistance." Finn lied.
"Why're you here?" Rey asked cautiously.
"I'm on a Resistance mission, to stop Kylo Ren from getting the map to Luke Skywalker." Finn replied quickly.
"Luke Skywalker? I thought he was a myth," Rey pondered.
"He isn't." Finn responded.
The threat of Stormtroopers and Unkar's thugs loomed.
"We should go." Finn urged hastily.
"Where?" Rey questioned.
Finn looked at BB-8, his breathing still slightly labored from the desert heat. BB-8 let out an inquisitive trill. "BB-8 knows. You know, right?"
BB-8 responds with a excited chirp. An order sounds in the distance, a group of Stormtroopers, begins strutting towards them.
"We gotta go, now!" Finn insists. He grabs Rey's hand, much to her dismay, and they run off, BB-8 follows behind.
Urgency drove them through the tent maze, but a TIE Fighter assault forced a hasty retreat to the spaceport.
"Come on, BB-8!" Finn urged as they raced towards the looming threat. In the frantic escape, Rey, Finn, and BB-8 found refuge within the Millennium Falcon, a relic from the past. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the legendary ship became their vessel of hope.
Suddenly, the scene shifted to the tent, where Finn urgently grabbed Rey's hand, and they sought cover from laser blasts. Stormtroopers pursued, and as Rey and Finn sprinted through the maze of tents, the threat escalated.
"Come on, BB-8!" Finn urged again, and Rey resisted his attempt to hold her hand. Laser blasts continued to close in, forcing them to seek refuge in a tent.
Inside, Rey, Finn, and BB-8 found a moment of respite amidst rusty wares. Rey observed that they were being targeted due to her association with Finn.
"They're shooting at both of us!" Rey exclaimed, and Finn acknowledged that they had marked her by seeing them together.
"Well, thanks for that!" Rey retorted. Finn, trying to deflect blame, pointed out that he wasn't the one who chased her with a stick. Urgently, Rey inquired if anyone had blasters, and Finn quieted her with a gesture, hearing something alarming.
Focused on Finn, he grabbed her hand again, pulling her away as they fled the tent. The scene shifted to the exterior of Niima Outpost, where Finn, Rey, and BB-8 raced away from a tent just as TIE Fighters entered the view. The fighters fired at them, causing a massive explosion that sent Rey, Finn, and BB-8 flying.
In the aftermath, Rey, truly afraid, checked on Finn, who lay unconscious nearby. BB-8 rolled over, beeping in concern.
"Hey!" Rey called out as Finn came to, asking if he was okay. This simple concern touched Rey, who extended her hand, offering help. Finn, grateful, took her hand, and they quickly departed.
As they ran through the chaotic spaceport, locals scattered in panic, and TIE Fighters dove, bombing the area. The urgency of the situation heightened as blaster explosions drew closer.
Rey, with her staff strapped to her back, led the way with Finn and BB-8 in tow. Glancing back, Finn noticed two TIE Fighters banking for a return. The imminent danger prompted their desperate search for an escape vehicle.
"We can't outrun them!" Finn exclaimed, and Rey pointed to a parked, four-engine ship—a quad-jumper.
"We might in that quad-jumper!" Rey suggested, but Finn pointed out the need for a pilot.
"We need a pilot!" Finn insisted.
"We've got one!" Rey declared, indicating a ship off-camera. However, as they ran towards it, TIE Fighters fired upon the quad-jumper, obliterating it in a fiery explosion.
"The garbage'll do!" Rey declared, coming to a quick stop. She turned and ran back towards a seemingly dilapidated ship. Finn and BB-8 followed, discovering it for the first time—the Millennium Falcon.
THE SCENERY TRANSITIONED INTO the interior of the Millennium Falcon, where Rey, Finn, and BB-8 entered. Rey hurriedly closed the door, sealing them inside, and raced to the cockpit.
"Gunner position's down there!" Rey directed Finn as he climbed down. With Rey in the pilot's seat, Finn buckled into the gunner position, and the adventure continued as they prepared to escape the impending threat.
The Millennium Falcon, though dormant for years, rumbled to life as Rey frantically manipulated switches. In the gunner position, Finn braced himself as the seat unexpectedly whipped to the left.
"Great. Whoa! I can do this, I can do this—" Finn exclaimed, adjusting to the unexpected movement.
In the cockpit, Rey braced herself, skepticism evident on her face, as she doubted her own quick reassurances.
Rey gripped the yoke of the Millennium Falcon, and as she did, the ship's engines ignited with a blinding brightness. In the bustling spaceport of Niima Outpost, the Falcon ascended wildly, shedding its tarps, and in a chaotic dance, it spun, tilted, and demolished the town's archway. Unkar Plutt, the outraged owner, ran out, shouting in despair as the Falcon soared into the sky, pursued by two TIE Fighters.
Inside the Millennium Falcon, Rey took control in the cockpit, piloting with determination. Finn swung into view, attempting to work the ship's guns.
"Whoa! Hey! Oh! Stay low! Stay low!" Finn advised, struggling to find his bearings.
"What?" Rey questioned, momentarily distracted.
"Stay low! It confuses their tracking!" Finn explained urgently.
In a daring move, Rey let go of the yoke, stretching towards the co-pilot controls. The Falcon canted as she reached for the switches, stabilizing the ship upon her return to the yoke. The upcoming maneuver carried an air of uncertainty.
"I'm going low!" Rey announced, and the Falcon, in an exhilarating display, banked at an upward arc, then swooped perilously low across the desert sand. Two TIE Fighters screamed past them in hot pursuit.
In the cylindrical corridor of the Millennium Falcon, BB-8 rolled to the ceiling, securing itself with magnetic cables. Rey, glancing back, saw the approaching TIE Fighters and shouted to Finn.
"What are you doing back there? Are you ever gonna fire back?!" Rey exclaimed.
Finn, wrestling with the gun controls, activated the targeting system.
"I'm working on it! Are the shields up?" Finn asked, focused on his task.
Rey strained, reaching for something in the co-pilot seat. "Not so easy without a co-pilot!"
Finn, battling with the gun controls and a swiveling chair, retorted, "Try sitting in this thing!"
Finally, Finn managed to fire back at the TIE Fighters, but his shots missed. The TIE Fighters retaliated, firing at the Falcon, which was rocked by the blasts.
"We need cover, quick!" Finn urgently suggested.
Rey, determined, manipulated the controls, piloting the Falcon through a spaceship graveyard. Deeper into the wreckage they went, narrowly avoiding collisions.
In the gunner position, Finn continued to fire at the pursuing TIE Fighters. A triumphant moment came as one of Finn's shots hit and shattered a TIE Fighter.
"Nice shot!" Rey commended, and Finn, with newfound confidence, replied, "I'm getting pretty good at this!"
Outside, the destroyed TIE Fighter crashed into the debris, instantly attracting scavengers seeking salvage. The remaining TIE Fighter continued its pursuit, leading the Falcon through the massive wreckage.
The Falcon's lower turret took a hit, jamming it into a forward position. Alarms blared inside the Millennium Falcon, signaling trouble.
"The cannon's stuck in a forward position. I can't move it! You gotta lose 'em!" Finn exclaimed, grappling with the gun controls.
Inside the cockpit, Rey faced the challenge, and her mind raced for a solution.
"Get ready!" Rey shouted to Finn, her eyes filled with determination.
"Okay! For what?" Finn questioned.
Rey piloted the Falcon up and into the rear of a crashed Super Star Destroyer, the final TIE Fighter hot on their tail. Finn, realizing their daring plan, couldn't believe it.
"Are we really doing this?!" Finn exclaimed.
Inside the wrecked Super Star Destroyer, the two ships slalomed through the debris, sparks flying as the Falcon grazed the sides. Rey expertly navigated through the narrow space.
"Whooo!" Finn cheered as they emerged from the Destroyer, victorious. Rey cut power, flipped the ship, and faced the back forward. The pursuing TIE Fighter, unable to execute the same maneuver, crashed in pursuit.
The Falcon roared off into the distance, leaving the ship graveyard behind and disappearing into the clouds of Jakku.
In the cockpit, Rey unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed back with excitement. In the corridor, she passed BB-8, who retracted his safety restraints. Finn, filled with adrenaline, climbed down from the turret, meeting Rey in the lounge.
"Now that was some flying! How did you do that?! No one trained you? No one? That was amazing!" Finn exclaimed, impressed.
As Finn praised Rey's flying skills, a blush crept across her cheeks, partly fueled by the heat of the intense battle and the exertion of their escape. In the confined space of the Millennium Falcon's corridor, Rey couldn't help but be affected by Finn's compliment. The mixture of adrenaline, sweat, and a hint of something more lingered.
"I—I don't know! I've flown some ships, but I've never left the planet! Your last shot was dead on. You got him with one blast! It was perfect!" Rey responded, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.
Amidst the charged atmosphere, BB-8 interrupted with urgent beeps. Rey turned her attention to the droid, kneeling beside it.
"You're okay. He's with the Resistance. He's going to get you home. We both will," Rey assured BB-8, her eyes reflecting a sense of commitment.
Addressing Finn, Rey sought to bridge the gap created by the intensity of their recent escape. "I don't know your name."
"Finn. What's yours?" Finn replied, trying to convey openness.
"I'm Rey," she answered, her gaze softening. BB-8, curious and observant, looked at Finn, silently questioning. Finn, feeling the weight of the lie he had told, met Rey's eyes as she smiled sweetly.
"Rey..." Finn began, but their moment was cut short as they were jolted by a sudden jump, steam bursting from under the grating.
Rey swiftly redirected their attention. "Help me with this! Quick!"
Responding to the urgency, they hurried to the grating, working together to pull it up. BB-8 rolled over, watching the unfolding scene with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Whoa! What's going on?" Finn inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Rey, already heading below, addressed the situation with determination.
KYLO REN
The Star Destroyer's bridge loomed with an air of ominous stillness as Lieutenant Mitaka approached Kylo Ren. Beyond the expansive viewport, the star field stretched into infinity, a silent witness to the unfolding events.
"Sir," Mitaka began cautiously, "We were unable to acquire the droid on Jakku."
Ren's sharp gaze pivoted towards Mitaka, his piercing silence demanding an explanation that words failed to convey.
"Not exactly, sir," Mitaka continued, treading carefully. "It escaped capture aboard a stolen Corellian YT model freighter."
A palpable tension filled the air as Kylo Ren's stern expression hinted at smoldering anger. Mitaka proceeded cautiously, aware of the consequences of delivering unwelcome news.
"We have no confirmation," he added hesitantly, "but we believe FN-2187 may have been helped in the escape."
Without warning, Ren's lightsaber ignited, slashing violently at the console behind him. The metallic wall bore the scars of Ren's destructive outburst, and Mitaka winced, a witness to the unbridled power of Ren's emotions.
"The droid... stole a freighter?" Ren's question hung in the air like a storm gathering on the horizon.
Mitaka swallowed, feeling the weight of Ren's displeasure. "Not exactly, sir. It had help."
The bridge became a stage for the unfolding consequences of the escape from Jakku. Below decks, Finn grappled with technical issues, oblivious to the mounting tension above.
"Anything else?" Ren's voice was a low growl, ominous and foreboding.
Mitaka hesitated before delivering the next piece of information. "The two were accompanied by a girl."
Ren, sensing a potential threat, reached out with the Force. Mitaka was violently pulled toward him, ensnared in Ren's grip.
"What girl?" The question reverberated through the bridge.
WITHING THE CONFINES OF the Millennium Falcon's lounge area, Rey's head emerged from under the grating, enveloped in steam, as an emergency alarm blared, echoing urgency.
"It's the motivator! Grab me a Harris wrench — check in there!" Rey's directive cut through the chaotic atmosphere as Finn frantically searched a storage box. The weight of the situation hung in the air.
"How bad is it?!" Finn's inquiry reflected the escalating tension, to which Rey's response carried a somber truth. "If we wanna live, not good!"
BB-8, the astromech droid, observed the unfolding events as Finn continued his search for tools. The urgency was palpable as Rey re-emerged, and Finn handed her the requested wrench.
"BB-8 said the location of the Resistance Base is 'need to know' — if I'm taking you there, I need to know!" Rey asserted, emphasizing the gravity of their predicament.
As Rey disappeared once again into the technical abyss, Finn was left alone with BB-8. A pivotal moment of decision arrived, and Finn knelt to the droid, revealing his inner turmoil. "You gotta tell us where the base is."
The droid responded with beeps, a language that Finn struggled to understand. In a whispered exchange, Finn disclosed his true allegiance, "I'm not with the Resistance, okay? I'm just trying to get away from the First Order — but you tell us where your base is, I'll get there first — deal?!"
BB-8, with a tilt of its head, contemplated the plea, a silent agreement hanging in the air. The pivotal moment lingered as Rey resurfaced, urging Finn to expedite the process.
"Pilex driver, hurry!" Rey's call echoed through the ship as Finn swiftly moved to provide the necessary tool. The tension peaked as Rey confronted Finn with a straightforward question, "So where's your base?"
"Go on BB-8, tell her. Please!" Finn's plea to BB-8 carried a sense of desperation.
"Beep beep, trill!"
"The Ileenium system?" Rey's surprise mirrored Finn's revelation about their destination.
"Yeah, the Ileenium system, that's the one — get us there as fast as you can." Finn's encouragement carried hope for a way out.
"I'll drop you two at Ponemah Terminal. I need the bonding tape, hurry!" Rey's plan unfolded, each step crucial for their survival.
"What about you?" Finn's concern for Rey hinted at a growing connection.
"BACK TO JAK--?! Why does everyone always wanna go back to Jakku?!" Finn's frustration echoed through the Falcon.
"None of your business, THAT'S WHY!" Rey's retort held a hint of vulnerability, a glimpse into her guarded past.
"That can't be good." Finn's realization about the power outage heightened the tension.
"No it can't be —" Rey's words trailed off as they rushed to the cockpit, only to face an ominous revelation.
"Someone's locked onto us — all controls are overridden." Rey's declaration set the stage for a dire situation.
"It's the First Order." Finn's whisper conveyed the weight of their predicament.
"What do we do — there must be something —" Rey's plea for a solution reflected her determination.
"You said poisonous gas —" Finn's attempt to find a way out began to take shape.
"Yeah, but I fixed that —" Rey's realization connected the dots.
"Can you unfix it?" Finn's question set the plan in motion.
"You think this'll work on the Stormtroopers?" Rey's concern for their safety lingered.
"Yeah. Their masks filter out smoke, not toxins." Finn's knowledge became a crucial asset in their escape.
"Hurry!" Finn's urgency emphasized the need for a swift resolution.
"I'm hurrying!" Rey's determination shone through as they prepared for their escape.
The ship's ramp lowered, revealing a tense standoff with Han Solo and Chewbacca.
"Chewie... we're home." Han's nostalgic declaration filled the air.
The duo surveyed the situation with a tactical mindset, their partnership a seamless dance of experience and loyalty. Han's eyes glinted with determination, a far cry from the carefree days of smuggling.
"Seems our old friend decided to take the Falcon for a joyride. We'll have to teach him a lesson in hospitality."
Rey, Finn, stepped back cautiously, their expressions a mix of awe and uncertainty. Han, instead of the gruff exterior he once wore, adopted a diplomatic tone.
"No need for introductions. I'm Han Solo, General of the Resistance. And you are?"
"Rey. Finn. We found the Falcon, and well, we're not exactly thrilled about it." Rey explained.
"Can't blame you. She's got a mind of her own. Now, where's the troublemaker who thought he could outfly me?"
"You're looking at her, this is Finn" Rey gestures to Finn who stands nervously at her side.
"I'm Finn" Finn adds quickly.
"I heard." Han walks past the two, checking his ships controls.
"Ducain. Always did have a knack for borrowing things that didn't belong to him." Han nearly chuckles. Han's demeanor remained firm but not unfriendly.
"Alright, let's get this sorted. Chewie, round up the mechanics. We've got a ship to reclaim."
Rey, Finn, and the others followed Han through the Falcon, the air thick with a blend of authority and nostalgia. Tight corridors littered the ship, with the sounds of soft electronics adding ambience.
"We're on a mission." Finn breaks the ice as he glances over at BB-8 who nudges Chewbacca playfully.
"We have to get this droid to General Leia, do you know her?" Rey asks as they come to a stop in the lounge room.
" 'Course I know her, she's my wife."
This one took a while, but I'm happy with the results, this entire thing is outlined, and we're on a smooth course. ST fans will see that I've changed up some elements, mainly Han, I'm really going to fix up some legacy characters in this [WHAT IF..., it may seem slow at first, but this story is coming along great.
As always, please favorite and leave a review of what you think so far, it motivates me and keeps me going during these sleepless nights.
That's all folks!
:)