//God Speed Rebels\\

viii

Well, Rey and Finn managed to let the Rathtars loose. Chewie, Han, BB-8, and I are on a mad run through the freighter. As I turn a corner behind Han and Chewie, a loud thump hits the wall just behind me. I glance for a second over my shoulder to see a Rathtar twisting its way around the freighter. I scream out in a panic as its long arms fly around and try to grab my legs. I jump and kick every time they get close. We turn to run out of the hallway when an arm grabs my ankle and picks me up. A loud growl of triumph roars out of the Rathtar as I hang inches from its rank mouth. I reach for my blaster, only to remember that the First Order had taken it from me. I ready myself to knock this creature as hard as I could -- although I know it wouldn't do much. Then someone is thrown into the Rathtar's mouth. The animal crunches down on the body and drops me to the ground. To my luck, I land on my broken rib. A loud crack rings as I cry out at the excruciating pain.

"Shit, kid. I heard that!" Han runs to my side and helps me up gingerly. I stand to my feet and hunch over at the pain.

"Come on! We need to get back to the ship!"

Han and Chewie end up dragging me to the sealed door that blocks our way to the Millennium Falcon. I lean against the pipes on the wall and clutch my side.

"I've got the door. You cover us!" Han yells to Chewie. After he shot down the soldiers, the Wookiee turns to me and asks if I'm alright. As I nod in response a blast hits Chewie's arm. He falls to the ground.

"Chewie!" I scream. I jump to his blaster and grab it while steadying it against my chest. I aim and shoot the last soldier square in the chest.

"You okay?"

I turn to Han who looks to the soldier then the blaster.

"Wow..." he mutters before taking the blaster from me and shooting the padlock. The door opens immediately and Han helps Chewie up. The two of us balance against each other as we inch closer to the Millennium Falcon. Rey and Finn come up behind us and run towards the ship as well.

"Han!"

"You, close the door behind us!" He points to Rey. "You, get the girl and Chewie onto the ship!" He then points to Finn-- who grabs Chewie forcefully and drags him on to the ship as the Wookiee, in turn, drags me onto the ship. Finn sits me on the medical bed and the Chewie in a chair. Finn then runs to the med box and grabs several different items, obviously not knowing what he needs to help us.

"Hang on back there!" I hear Han yell from the cock pit. Then, the ship thrusts forward into light speed. I look at Chewie.

"From inside the hangar?!" I yell questioningly. Chewie grumbles nonchalantly. Finn runs over to Chewie with some binding tape and tries to stick it on him.

"Chewie, come on!"

After several more attempts, Chewie has Finn by the throat.

"I need some help with the giant hairy thing!"

I gingerly stand to my feet and walk over as quickly as I could.

"You hurt Chewie, you're gonna deal with me!"

"Hurt him?! He almost killed me six times!"

I rest a hand on Chewie's arm and he lets go of Finn-- who falls to the ground. I grab the tape from him and begin binding Chewie's arm. Finn watches in disbelief then rolls his eyes.

"Thanks, kid. Get some rest."

I turn to Han, who walks over and sits on the table for a moment.

"So... fugitives, huh?"

"I'm a Resistance pilot. BB-8 has a map in him. The First Order wants it." I mutter.

"Finn is also with the Resistance. I'm just a scavenger." Rey finishes for me.

"A map? Let's see what you've got."

BB-8 looks to me. I nod and lean against the side of the ship as the droid rolls to the center of the room and shows the map through his lens.

"This map's not complete. It's just a piece. Ever since Luke disappeared people have been looking for him."

I cock my head.

"Why did he leave?" I ask. Han turns to me and watches for a second before sighing to himself and looking through the map again.

"He was training a new generation of Jedi. One boy, an apprentice..."

I look to the ground, an odd feeling churns in my stomach.

"Turned against him, destroyed it all. Luke felt responsible. He just-- walked away from everything." Han breathes out through his nose

"Do you know what happened to him?" Finn pipes up, obvious intrigued with the story. I look up to Rey, who seems to be thinking to herself.

"A lot of rumors. Stories. People that knew him best... think he went looking for the first Jedi temple."

"That's impossible. The First Jedi temple is a myth-- only legends have talked about it." I mutter. Rey looks to me then Han.

"The Jedi were real?"

I feel my stomach churn again. The fact that my secret is only known by Leia puts me on edge.

"I used to wonder about that myself. Thought it was a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. A magical power holding together good and evil... the dark side and the light. Crazy thing is... it's true. The Force. The Jedi. All Of it. It's all true." Han's words felt full and mysterious. As if they were filled with the Force themselves. I wonder why he's not with Leia now... Suddenly, the ship slows out of light speed.

"This is our stop." Han mutters. Chewie stands to his feet and protests that he's coming.

"No! You rest!"

The Wookiee mutters grumbly.

"You want my help? You're getting it. Gonna see an old friend. She'll get your droid home." Han says to the three of us. I stand up and walk towards Chewie, standing next to him. We all follow him into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. The ship stops just outside of Takodana.

"I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy..." Rey mutters. Pity falls on my heart as I watch her eyes boggle in awe. Han smirks to her before pushing the ship quicker to the large castle. As we land, Han walks to the back of the ship, grabbing some weapons. Finn follows quickly and begins murmuring some nonsense about being part of the Resistance. I limp out of the ship and towards Rey, who looks around in awe. I rest a hand on her shoulder. She jumps before turning to me and smiling.

"You know, you don't have to go back to Jakku."

She looks down at her hands before looking back up to me.

"I have to, Alex."

"But, why?" I chuckle. "Don't you want to have a life like this? Full of adventure? Jakku is a wasteland, full of scavengers and thieves who don't give a damn about you..."

"Alex, I have a family. I'm waiting for them. Have been all my life."

I look her in the eyes. Hurt and pain are all she feels. I rest a hand on her shoulder again. My eyes wander hers, my thoughts do the same.

A small girl, crying as she yells out to a ship.

"No! Nooo!" She screams.

A scavenger is pulling her away as she pulls back reaching out to the moving ship.

My hand rips away from her. Tears prick my eyes as I stare her down. She looks confusedly at me as I cover my mouth with my hand.

"Oh, Rey... I'm so sorry..." I pull her into a hug as tears run down my cheeks. Her arms wrap around me slowly, she clutches my side, causing an excruciating amount of pain, but I don't care. She needs me. I can't let her go back. Her family is a lost cause and she needs a new one.