The Force Awakens

Chapter 41

The tunnel dumped us even closer to Ochi's rusty freighter. It perched atop a huge rock platform, an island of stability in a sea of shifting mires. My friends and I climbed toward it.

"We cannot possibly fly in that old wreck!" C-3PO protested. He struggled to keep up over the jutting rocks. If we survived this, I would make sure he got an oil bath.

"We gotta keep moving," Poe urged from just ahead. "Find someone who can translate that dagger...like, a helpful droid."

"I suggest we return to the Millennium Falcon at once." C-3PO said.

"They'll be waiting at the Falcon," Rey said.

"They'll send us to the pits of Griq," Finn said.

"And use you as a target droid," Poe added.

"You three make excellent points at times," C-3PO said.

I frowned. They were having a bit of fun with the droid, but it was true that the Falcon was probably in First Order hands by now. Chewie had locked it down tight, but the First Order would get past all their security precautions eventually. It was possible I'd never see my ship again.

A familiar presence hit me like a thunderclap, and I froze in place.

"Annie?" Poe turned to see what had made me pause.
His face was still dusty from our tour of the tunnels, and as usual his inherent kindness and concern were smeared all over his features. I would not allow him to be hurt by what was coming. I would protect him, even if it meant doing something I was pretty sure Leia wouldn't approve of.

"I'll be right behind you," I said gently.

He frowned.

I gave a little push with the Force and added, "It's okay."

He was wordless as I handed over my haversack, everything except the lightsaber hooked to my belt. I felt his eyes on my back as I descended the rocks and, avoiding the shifting mires this time, sprinted out onto a wide, flat stretch of desert.

I didn't dare to look back, because all my attention was drawn to a black mote on the horizon, flying fast and low, approaching me.

I squared my shoulders as the mote became a TIE fighter. His TIE fighter. I wasn't sure how yet, but I would not give ground. I would protect my friends. At any cost.

Poe's head was fuzzy. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the fact that I had told him to go, and he'd just left me in the desert without question. Something about that didn't make sense.

He hit the freighter's hatch release, and the access ramp descended. Finn followed Poe, Chewie, and the droids into a dark central hold choking in sand. Ochi hadn't sealed this place up before being swallowed by the mires. He must have thought he'd be returning before long.

The hold was filled with junk, and the walls remained mostly open to the ship's inner workings, Finn recognized emergency atmo tanks, a particle shield booster, along with endless wires and ducts and latches whose uses remained a mystery, though he'd bet Poe, Rey, or I would know what they were. The interior was so messy it made the Falcon look almost tidy.

On a wall near the entrance to the sleeping quarters, a metal plaque identified the ship: BESTOON LEGACY.

"Let's try waking up the converters," Poe said, heading toward the cockpit, pushing cobwebs and junk out of the way.

"This ship is filthy!" C-3PO said, and Finn had to agree. Phasma would have made his entire unit scrub latrines with their toothbrushes if she'd ever caught them failing to lash down cargo or mop up dirt.