Forever Indebted

could've been

Rey stood still, in complete shock. The old lady was there and then she wasn't, vanished into thin air as if she was never there at all. Though the woman was familiar, Rey hadn't seen her in the short time she was on this desert planet.

Rey knew of late Jedis who could project themselves to the living world, showing their presence to other force sensitives, yet this was different. She felt her presence, she felt the living force of another human being who had been standing a few strides away from her.

Unable to plant a reason on the matter Rey did what she had been doing since arriving on Tatooine, taking in the baron surroundings. Nothing but sand and dunes for as far as the eye could see.

While she understood the appeal of Jakku, she saw not a single thing that would influence someone to live on yet another sand heap in the forgotten reaches of the Outer Rim. Unlike Tatooine, Jakku was a prime spot for junk traders and scavengers, fallen ships lay scattered all over the planet, ruins of the war against the empire. TIE fighters, X-wings, star destroyers, you name it and it has probably crashed on Jakku.

Tatooine was formerly run by the Hutts, but after the Skywalkers rid Jabba and his scum from the galaxy it was believed that things would remain peaceful on this planet for years to come. Though as Jedi often are, they were naïve to believe this false truth. The well-established Ankor gang were quick to pounce on the perfect opportunity of fresh meat. Since then Tatooine has been in just as much strife and chaos as it was all those years ago under the Hutts.

Before she left for Tatooine Rey had heard the Generals scheming a plan to overrun the Ankor gang. Finn and Poe were like yin and yang as Generals. Finn was diplomatic and wanted to try the gentle approach yet Poe wanted to play bad cop, going in guns blazing like the trigger happy man he is. Rey remembers the silent bickering between them, raising eyebrows and rolling eyes during one another's plan debriefs. Thankfully though the two men had entrusted the guidance of the smallest human on base, Rose. Rey is forever grateful that the boys had Rose, always guiding them to a common ground on whatever issue stands between them.

Rey and Rose had an instant connection, like long lost friends who understood each other perfectly. Able to read any emotion on each other's face. Rose was great, always willing to see the best in people. Quickly the happiness of this memory was overridden by a burning hole in her heart. Rose would've loved Ben, she would've tried so hard to get that man to trust her and would show him that she didn't see him as Kylo Ren anymore. A compassionate trait Rey thinks neither Finn or Poe would've had towards the man who owns her heart and soul.

Tenderness turned into absolute agony. Like a million laser blasts in her heart.

"We could've been everything. We could've had the world, everything at our fingertips. The possibilities were endless. A dyad in the force, two as one. Ben Solo and Rey Solo." Rey sat down, pulling her knees up to her chest for the umpteenth time since Exegol, silent tears streaming down her face. So accustomed to the feeling she needn't bother wiping them away.

She thought this would get easier, accepting the terms that Ben was gone. That he was in a better place revelling in quiet where the thoughts in his head were dimmed. With his mother by his side, loving him as much as the day he was born. But Rey couldn't help but feel selfish.

He could be here, he could've been happy here. He could have discovered all the love in the world here. He could have healed here. He should be here. With her. He needs to be here with her. She wanted to cry and kick and scream, she would do anything to bring him back, anything.

Though there was no one here to help her do that. All the jedi are gone, all the sith are gone, every single thing in the galaxy that could help her are gone and she has no idea what to do with that.

A crackle rumbled through Reys mind, sounding almost like a broken laugh. Shooting up, swinging her head from side to side as she tried to find the source of that sound she was unsuccessful. There was no one around.

"I never said I was alive." The voice cackled, "and who says there is no one who can help you?" A heinous snicker shot through her mind, terrifying her more than anything ever had.

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Hey guys I'll be aiming to update this at least once a week. Thanks so much for engaging with this :)