Chapter 34 - Falling for a clue
Poe, Rey, Finn, Chewbacca, BB-8, and C-3PO sprinted through the bustling crowd, weaving between startled onlookers and colourful market stalls. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter and the clattering of goods, but their focus remained on the path ahead as they pushed forward, urgency propelling them faster. Chewbacca's growls mingled with BB-8's beeps, adding to the turmoil of their hurried escape.
Poe pointed into the distance, his voice rising above the chaotic sounds. "There! Those speeders!" The deafening screech of the approaching TIE fighters filled the air, drawing ever closer and intensifying the urgency of their situation.
Without hesitation, Poe opened a panel on the sleek speeder's control console and began to hotwire the vehicle, his hands moving swiftly and confidently.
Finn watched him with a puzzled and slightly judgmental expression, bewildered by the sight. "How do you know how to do that?" he asked, his brow furrowed with confusion.
Just then, C-3PO appeared, his metal limbs clanking as he rushed over, breathless and flustered. "No need to worry," he said, his voice a mix of reassurance and anxiety. "I made it."
They were suddenly spotted by a group of aliens, who erupted into frantic shouts and began rushing toward them.
"We gotta go!" Poe exclaimed; his voice laced with urgency as he slammed the control panel shut behind him.
The group quickly divided between two sleek speeders. Rey took the helm of one speeder, the engine roaring to life beneath her, with Chewbacca's massive form seated behind her and the cheerful beeps of BB-8 nestled in the back.
Meanwhile, Poe piloted the other speeder, Finn gripping the seat behind him while C-3PO's golden limbs flailed nervously at the rear.
In hot pursuit behind them, stormtroopers hopped aboard their own speeders, two of them leaping onto each vehicle with practiced ease.
As Rey glanced over her shoulder, she gritted her teeth and aimed her blaster, firing at the engines of the oncoming speeders, hoping to incapacitate them without harming the troopers.
Just as they were gaining ground, the two rear stormtroopers from each of the speeders activated their jet packs, soaring into the air and turning the chase into a high-stakes aerial pursuit.
C-3PO's voice rang out in urgent astonishment, "Oh! They fly now!"
Finn, confused by the revelation, turned to Poe with wide eyes. "They fly now?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Poe glanced ahead; determination etched on his face. "Yep, they fly now," he confirmed.
Ahead, a rugged rocky outcrop jutted into the sky, creating a stark backdrop against the horizon. Rey expertly manoeuvred her speeder, swerving to one side, while Poe skillfully split off in another direction.
Blaster bolts whizzed by, dangerously close to Rey's head, the air crackling with energy as explosions erupted just in front of her speeder, sending dirt and debris flying.
BB-8 began to beep frantically, signalling he had discovered something. Rey directed her gaze down to see BB-8 tapping excitedly at an unexploded powder firework. In a swift motion, he pierced it, and with a loud whoosh, it launched from the back of the speeder.
With deft skill, Rey sharply turned her speeder, aligning her aim toward the ascending firework. She squeezed the trigger of her blaster, and with a precise shot, the firework erupted in a brilliant explosion of yellow dust, painting the sky, and obscuring the landscape behind them in a dazzling haze.
Rey couldn't help but smile, a triumphant glimmer in her eye. "Never underestimate a droid," she declared, her voice ringing with confidence, as they sped away.
The stormtrooper lost control of his speeder after being overwhelmed by the swirling yellow dust, crashing into the edge of a rocky outcrop. The impact caused him to come to a sudden stop, with the engine sputtering in protest. In frustration, he slammed his fist down on the handlebar.
Chewbacca took aim at the stormtrooper still flying behind them. Rey concentrated on ensuring his shot hit the edge of the stormtrooper's jetpack. The blast caused the stormtrooper to lose power, tumbling to the ground, but he survived the crash. I can't have them killing all my stormtroopers.
Rey cast a quick glance to the side and her eyes widened as she spotted the ominous ship perched precariously on the edge of the rocky cliff. "Ochi's ship," she murmured, the sight igniting a flood of memories that flickered through her mind.
Just then, Poe's speeder roared into view, skimming low over the rugged terrain. Finn's voice rang out urgently, "Rey, did you manage to get all of them?"
In an instant, anarchy erupted as a blaster bolt, fired from a pursuing stormtrooper, struck Rey's vehicle with a violent jolt. The force of the blast sent her, Chewbacca, and BB-8 tumbling through the air, landing with a heavy thud on the ground.
Simultaneously, a second shot hit Poe's speeder, sending him, Finn, and C-3PO into a dizzying crash. They all hit the ground hard, adrenaline coursing through their veins, as they instinctively turned their blasters toward the threat looming before them.
With determination, Finn squeezed the trigger of his blaster. The laser burst streaked through the air, striking the stormtrooper squarely. The trooper reeled backward, spiralling out of control before crashing spectacularly into a fireball that erupted against the cliff face, illuminating the scene with a brilliant flash.
The ground beneath them trembled ominously, and with each passing second, they felt an unsettling pull, as if the earth itself were alive and hungry, dragging them into its sandy depths.
Poe thrashed wildly, his heart racing as he fought against the inexorable force that sought to consume him. "What in the hell is this?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief and fear.
Rey scanned her surroundings, her eyes wide with urgency. "Sinking fields!" she shouted, her voice rising above the commotion. "Look for something to hold on to!" She desperately searched for anything to grip on, her mind racing for a solution.
Suddenly, C-3PO's metallic voice pierced the air. "Will this agony never end?" he wailed, just before he vanished completely, swallowed by the shifting sands.
"Come on!" Poe yelled, desperation creeping into his tone as he too succumbed to the ground's relentless grasp, his body disappearing into the abyss.
Chewbacca issued a deep growl, a sound of concern echoing through the chaos, while BB-8 chirped and squeaked in a frantic rhythm, the little droid's distress palpable.
Panic began to bubble up inside Rey as she fought to remain calm. Every instinct urged her to struggle against the ground, but she knew from her past experiences that such resistance would only hasten her descent—much like the perilous sinking fields she had encountered on Jakku.
BB-8 plunged into the abyss, disappearing from view. "No!" Rey cried out, her voice laden with desperation. "BB-8!"
Finn's frantic shout echoed in her ears, "Rey, Rey!" She whipped her head toward him just in time to see him begin to vanish, "I never told you…" was all he got to say before he was pulled under.
"Finn…!" Rey's heart raced, panic slicing through her as she called his name.
Chewbacca, too, was caught in the swirling tide and dragged beneath the surface, leaving Rey alone above the surface.
Her mind raced as she grasped for anything, desperately trying to halt her own downward spiral.
Just then, she felt an unexpected tug on her consciousness—a powerful connection formed by the Force. Kylo Ren leaned forward from above, extending his hand toward her with a determined yet composed expression.
With a surge of hope, she grasped his outstretched hand, holding on tight as the sand threatened to engulf her. Only her head and one arm remained above the sinking field, the rest of her body suspended in the perilous grip of the unknown.
"Need a hand?" Kylo asked, a playful smirk breaking through the gravity of the situation.
Rey took a moment to steady her ragged breathing, her heart racing as she concentrated on calming herself. "Yeah," she finally said, drawing in a deep, laboured breath. "Maybe two," she added, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you okay?" Kylo asked, concern etched on his face as he observed her struggle.
"I am now," Rey replied, a small smile breaking through the tension.
With determination, Kylo began to pull Rey upwards, the rough edges of the sinkhole scraping against her sides as she ascended back up to his waist height.
"Are you any closer to finding the Wayfinder?" he asked, straining slightly as he continued to hoist her toward him.
"We found Oshi's ship," Rey said. "I think I recognised it—it might be the ship my parents took when they left Jakku."
Kylo raised his eyebrows, a mix of curiosity and intrigue crossing his features. "I wonder if that means they knew Oshi or were searching for the Wayfinder," he pondered.
Kylo gripped Rey tightly, his strong hands tightening around her waist as he lifted her from the treacherous ground that threatened to engulf her.
"Wait," Rey called out, her voice steady but urgent.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she reached out through the Force, feeling the faint but reassuring presence of her friends below.
Turning her gaze back to Kylo, she added, "You need to let me go."
A look of surprise washed over Kylo's face, his brow furrowing. "What?"
"There's a tunnel or something beneath us; I can sense it. They're all right," she explained. "I can feel them looking for me just below us." Her expression was one of determination.
Kylo shook his head, disbelief etched across his features. "After all that effort…" he snorted.
"Thanks, love." With a sudden burst of courage, Rey grasped the front of his tunic and pulled him down for a quick, electric kiss. The connection was brief yet intense.
Then, with a forceful push, she slipped from his grasp and plunged back into the depths of the sinking field. Rey took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she surrendered to the ground enveloping her entirely.
Kylo stumbled backward, his surprise evident as he watched her disappear into the shifting earth severing their connection.
Poe steadied himself and rose to his feet, scanning the dimly lit tunnel around him. The air was thick and chilly, adding to the unease of his surroundings. He flicked on his torch, casting a flickering beam of light that pushed back the shadows and revealed the rough, damp walls of the tunnel.
"Rey? Finn?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the stone.
"You didn't call my name, sir, but I'm alright," C-3PO chimed in.
In the corner, Chewbacca growled softly, while BB-8 rolled forward, chirping reassuringly to confirm their safety.
Finn pushed himself up off the ground, brushing dirt and debris from his clothes. "I'm good," he replied, his brow furrowed with concern. "But where's Rey?"
C-3PO turned to Finn, relief flooding his synthetic voice. "Ah, Master Finn."
Poe and Finn's eyes peered around the dimly lit tunnel, their hearts pounding as they searched desperately for Rey. Just then, they heard a faint groan reverberate through the air, and their eyes caught a glimpse of her legs, dangling precariously.
Without hesitation, Poe positioned himself underneath her just in time to catch her as she tumbled down. Gently lowering her to the ground, he looked into her eyes, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
"Yeah," Rey reassured him, brushing off the dust and debris as she climbed to her feet, regaining her composure.
Poe glanced around at the eerie surroundings, curiosity overriding his relief. "What is this place?" he wondered aloud, taking in the dark, damp walls that seemed to close in on them.
"This isn't the afterlife, is it?" C-3PO interjected, his metallic voice echoing awkwardly in the confined space. "Are droids even allowed here?"
Poe let out a shaky breath, a mix of relief and disbelief flooding over him. "I thought we were goners," he admitted, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.
C-3PO, ever the pragmatist, replied, "We might still be."
Finn, scanning the shadows for any sign of an exit, asked urgently, "Which way is out?" Hope and determination flashed in his eyes as he looked to his friends for guidance.
Rey flicked her wrist, igniting Leia's blue lightsaber that she had kept tucked away in her satchel. The vibrant glow casting flickering shadows against the walls of the cavern and illuminating the rocky surfaces. "We have to hurry," she urged, determination etched on her face as she chose a path and began to stride purposefully forward.
Finn rushed to match her pace, his heart racing not just from the urgency of the moment but also from the electricity in the air. As he settled into step beside her, the silence between them felt heavy, almost palpable. Finally, Rey broke the tension.
"So, what were you going to tell me?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
"When?" Finn replied, confusion creeping into his voice.
"When you were sinking in the sand," she prompted, her tone softening, "you said… I never told you…" Her words trailed off, leaving an unspoken question hanging in the air.
"I'll tell you later," Finn promised, his gaze darting away, as if avoiding the weight of his own secret.
"You mean when Poe's not here?" came Poe's voice, cutting in with a smirk, his arms crossed.
"Yeah," Finn admitted, the hint of a smile on his lips betraying his unease.
"We're going to die in these sand burrows, and we're all keeping secrets," Poe said, exasperation lacing his tone as he glanced around the dark cave.
"I'll tell you when you tell us about all that shifty stuff you do," Finn countered, his voice steady, trying to challenge the tension.
In response, Chewbacca let out a low growl, nodding emphatically as if to reinforce Finn's point.
Poe scanned the dimly lit walls of the winding tunnels, intrigued yet uneasy by their jagged shapes that twisted and turned like the veins of some great beast. "I really don't want to know what created these tunnels," he muttered, his voice echoing slightly in the silence.
"Judging by the circumference of the walls…" C-3PO began.
"I said I don't want to know. Not," Poe emphasized, a hint of irritation creeping into his tone. His gaze drifted to a shadowy corner, where something caught his eye. "What's that?"
"Is that a speeder?" Finn asked, squinting to get a better look at the abandoned vehicle partially obscured by rubble.
"It looks like an old one," Rey examined it closely, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Perhaps we will find the driver," C-3PO suggested optimistically.
BB-8 emitted a series of concerned chirps and beeps.
"Yeah, BB-8, I think the driver is probably dead too," Poe replied.
"Oh my, a hex charm," C-3PO exclaimed, as he carefully examined the ornate object.
"A what?" Poe inquired, curiosity flickering across his face as he leaned in closer.
"A common emblem of Sith loyalists," C-3PO replied, his tone infused with a hint of caution, warning them of the dark history the dagger represented.
"Sith?" Rey pondered.
"This was Ochi's?" Finn suggested, his voice steady but laced with intrigue.
Rey nodded thoughtfully, stating, "Luke sensed it. Ochi never left this place."
"And he ended up down here," Finn said, glancing around at the dim, shadowy chamber.
"He was headed for his ship," Poe speculated, the gears in his mind turning. "Same thing happened to us, happened to him."
"So, how did Ochi get out?" Finn inquired.
Rey glanced down, her eyes landing on the skeletal remains scattered across the ground. "He didn't," she replied, her voice tinged with a grim realisation.
"No, he didn't," Finn agreed, his expression mirroring her somber tone.
"Bones," Poe groaned, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I don't like bones."
"Bones?" C-3PO interjected. "Never a good sign."
Suddenly, BB-8 moved closer, his sensors detecting something unusual sticking out of the soil. He beeped persistently, eager to capture Rey's attention.
She strode confidently to his side, peering into the earth. "Yeah, I see it," she responded, crouching down to examine the object more closely.
With a burst of air, BB-8 cleared away loose dirt, revealing more of what appeared to be a handle. Rey griped it firmly, her heart racing as she pulled the object from the ground. It was an intricately carved dagger, covered in strange shapes and patterns.
As she held the dagger, an unsettling wave washed over her. She sensed an overwhelming presence of darkness and pain, and faint echoes of screams reverberate in her mind, sending chills down her spine.
"Horrible things have happened with this," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, as she clutched the dagger tightly, an air of foreboding surrounding her.
"There's writing on it," Poe pointed out, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in closer to examine the ancient inscriptions that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.
"Perhaps I can translate," C-3PO offered.
Rey nodded her head, hope flickering in her gaze.
C-3PO carefully took the dagger, holding it on an angle to catch the glow from the lightsaber. "Oh," C-3PO gasped, his mechanical voice tinged with astonishment. "The location of the wayfinder has been inscribed upon this dagger. It's the clue that Master Luke was desperately searching for."
"And?" Poe pressed.
"Where's the wayfinder?" Finn chimed in.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you," C-3PO replied, the tension in his voice palpable.
"Twenty-point three bazillion languages, and you can't read that?" Poe exclaimed, incredulity washing over his features.
"Oh, I have read it, sir," C-3PO stated proudly, as if revealing an accomplishment. "I know exactly where the wayfinder is. Unfortunately, it is written in the runic language of the Sith."
"So, what?" Rey asked, her curiosity deepening.
"My programming forbids me from translating it," C-3PO explained, regret evident in his synthetic voice.
"So you're telling us that the one time we really need you to talk, you can't?" Poe said, frustration creeping into his tone like a dark shadow.
"Irony, sir?" C-3PO replied. "I am mechanically incapable of providing translations from Sith. I believe that rule was established by the Senate of the Old Republic…"
A low, menacing snarl echoed through the dimly lit tunnel, causing Rey, Finn, and Poe to gasp and instinctively step back. With wide eyes, they beheld a massive, serpent-like creature sprawled across the passage, its girth nearly matching the width of the tunnel itself.
BB-8 emitted a high-pitched squeal of alarm, the sound cutting through the tension in the air.
C-3PO spun around in a frantic whirl, his golden limbs flailing as he shouted, "Serpent! Serpent! Serpent!" Panic tinged his mechanical voice.
With a steadying breath, Poe aimed his blaster at the creature, his fingers gripping the weapon tightly. But Rey shook her head emphatically and urged Poe to lower his blaster.
She passed the lightsaber to Finn, the hilt warm from her grasp, before bravely stepping forward. As she advanced, an almost palpable wave of pain radiated from the serpent, urging her to show compassion.
"Rey," Finn whispered, his voice laced with concern.
The creature responded with a sharp hiss, the sound slicing through the air and making Rey flinch slightly.
"Finn," Poe warned, his eyes darting between Rey and the creature.
Finn quickly hushed Poe, focusing on Rey's determination.
As she leaned closer, Rey noticed a gruesome wound on the creature's side, inflamed and oozing a light, viscous fluid.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped over the thick, muscular tail, closing the distance to the injured spot, her resolve unshaken by the creature's continued hissing.
"I'm going to blast it," Poe warned, his voice tense with urgency.
"Don't blast it," Finn urged, concern flickering across his face.
Rey took a deep breath, each inhale slow and deliberate as nerves fluttered in her stomach. She crouched low, her fingertips brushing the creature's scales, and closed her eyes, shutting out the world around her.
With unwavering focus, she concentrated on weaving the fibers of the creature's injury together, channeling her energy to heal the wound. As she worked, the creature emitted a soft purr, a sound that surrounded her in a sense of calm.
With a sudden burst of vitality, the creature sprang into action, racing back down the dark tunnel. In its wake, it knocked against the tunnel wall, creating a circular hole that opened wide to the outside world. Brilliant sunlight poured in, illuminating the dim passageway.
BB-8 emitted a series of curious beeps as he gazed up at Rey. He was eager to comprehend the extraordinary event that had just taken place.
"I just transferred a bit of life," Rey explained, her tone soft yet filled with the weight of her words. "Force energy from me to him."
In response, BB-8 chirped joyfully, his small frame vibrating with delight.
Rey smiled warmly, her face illuminated by the faint glow of the surroundings. "You would've done the same," she reassured him.
Meanwhile, Chewbacca carefully picked up the dagger with his massive hands, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light. He stowed it securely inside his satchel.
With determination, the group moved toward the hole in the wall, the promise of sunlight beckoning them forward. They stepped out into the open air, ready to leave the oppressive darkness of the tunnel behind and embrace whatever awaited them outside.