The Legend of the Jedi Queen

2. The Millennium Falcon

The sun rose over the meadows of Aquilae, turning the sky a shade of lavender as the full moon hung in the air, despite the sun rising. Nellith never tired of it, in all her years. Each morning, it was as if seeing it for the first time.

Even this morning, when urgency was king, she couldn't help but marvel at it.

"Come on, we need to get moving."

Nellith turned to see Chewbacca standing by the loading ramp of the Millennium Falcon. The sight of the Wookiee always made her smile, and had ever since she was a baby. At least, that was what Rey said.

"You're right, sorry," Nellith said. She stepped onto the Falcon, and immediately felt at home. She could sense the memories and camaraderie the ship had made, and she could feel the spirits of her family there. It was the last real relic of Han Solo, war general and great smuggler alike.

The man Nellith knew as her grandfather.

She walked to the cockpit, and saw Artoo doing some minor repairs as Rey fired up the ship.

"Hello, Artoo," she said, before sitting down in one of the back chairs. Artoo beeped back a standard greeting, and she took off her backpack, setting it on the floor beside her.

Chewbacca appeared in the cockpit.

"We're ready to go," he said.

"Alright," Rey said. "You did buckle your restraints, right?"

"Yes, Mum," Nellith said.

Chewbacca sat in the co-pilot's seat, and they began the takeoff procedures. Nellith watched them maneuver the controls, trying to memorize it. She hoped one day that they would give her a chance to learn how to drive it.

"Kiernan's happy he gets a chance to try and lead, so I suppose this trip will be good for everyone," Rey said.

"Yeah," Nellith said absently.

"Look, I know you don't like Kiernan, but he is a good Jedi, if a bit lacking as a leader," Rey said. "And he's one of the first to come to the new Order."

"I know," Nellith said resignedly.

Rey bit her lip before deciding to leave Nellith alone. She thrust the lever forward, sending the Falcon flying into the atmosphere of Aquilae. From through the viewport, Nellith could see the stars growing brighter right in front of her eyes. Although she couldn't see it, she knew that the meadow world was shrinking below.

Once they pulled into the atmosphere, Chewbacca punched in coordinates, and blue lines streaked by. Nellith glanced over Rey's shoulder, reading the name of the location.

"The Calrissian Belt?" Nellith asked.

"It's a refueling station in an asteroid belt," Rey explained. "Aella Calrissian owns it."

Nellith nodded. The HoloNet was full of pictures and news about the Calrissian sisters, a trio of savvy young women descended from the famous war hero.

"It's just where we're refueling, right?" Nellith asked.

"Of course," Rey said. "Why don't you go do something? It's going to be a couple hours before we get there."

Nellith nodded once more, and she unbuckled her restraints. She got up, grabbing her backpack, and headed to the gunner's turret. She sat in the seat, otherwise careful not to touch anything, just watching the stars blur all around her. Holding her stuffed tauntaun in her arms, she wondered how her training would go.

It certainly wouldn't be the same as others'. Otherwise, she wouldn't be leaving the safety of Aquilae, or going to the familial world of Anch-To.

Those were the only worlds Nellith had been. Tatooine, in comparison, was an exotic homeland, with the mystical twin suns and the roots of her family tree planted in its deserts near Mos Eisley. It was crime-ridden, a world of corruption and wasted dreams.