To the Far Reaches

Cargo

"Wake up!" Tilo snapped. I sprung up instantly and gripped the necklace with a dumbstruck jolt of my hand.

"Wear this, boy. Everyone is looking for you out there." Tilo handed me a cream colored cloak with a hood and brown pants.

"Thank you." I slid the cloak on and pulled the hood over my head. The waist on the pants he handed me was wide, and so I slipped them on over my own pants to make up the difference.

"You can start with these boxes here. My cargo ship is right outside the door we went through last night." Tilo limped away in the direction of the ship. I faced the boxes with a sigh and began to carry them out. The daylight was blinding as it reflected off of every metal surface in sight. This was the first time I had noticed how worn I had become. My hair was matted down while streaks of dirt and unhealed wounds decorated my face.

I went inside where it was dim and cave-like to lift another box. I worked diligently, my hands powering through the heavy boxes knowing Rey would be the reward in the long run. On my way to the ship, I overheard a group of people talk about Kylo Ren. What scum they were, for he was dead. He was buried long ago and replaced with someone new. Kylo Ren was not an identity anymore, and he was a forgotten ghost of the past.

The last crate was loaded onto the ship. I climbed the ladder to the piloting station to tell Tilo. He sat in his seat with a distant look in his eyes.

"The ship is ready to go." I prompted him as I took the co-pilot seat. When I looked at him I was reminded of my father. They shared the same gray-vein hair and itchy remains of a beard. I felt closer to Tilo in that I saw him as a father figure ready to help out his son. The death of my father makes me a culpable party, and I would do anything to bring those moments back where I felt like a child under his supervision.

"Thank you, boy. Here, drink some water." Tilo's wobbling hand reached out a canteen gripped in bones.

"Thank you." I accepted the canteen and took a drink from it.

"Let us go then, to Ramodi." He flipped switches and pushed buttons until the cargo ship hovered. He brought it high above the buildings below and out into space.

"You're a prince, aren't you?" Tilo asked as he jumped to lightspeed.

"Yes I am." Those words struck me hard. My mother had died for me and so had my father. I killed them, the very people that made me. They were gone now, only in visions did I ever see their faces again. My mind could not leave the thought of my father alone. Tilo smacked his lips and itched his balding chin.

We exited lightspeed and were absorbed into Ramodi's atmosphere.

"Keep your head low here too. This place is crawling with smugglers and anyone willing to earn an extra credit doing dirty work." We landed among other cargo ships that were selling and buying crates off the backs of each other.

"Stay here. Don't need'em finding out who else is on the ship." Tilo patted my shoulder then descended down to the planet's floor.

I peered out the window and saw Tilo point up to the window where I was sitting. The creature standing next to him looked up and saw my face. Quickly, I slid down the ladder and closed the gate. Hoards of smugglers began to jump up over the closing gate and into the cargo area. I climbed back up the ladder and locked the hatch. My hands fumbled with panic as I tried to take off with the ship. The smugglers down below started to knock on the hatch. Somehow I got the ship to rise and head toward space. Tilo had said Borao was not too far. Tilo. I told myself to forget that old man and that he had done enough for me. He knows where I'm going though. He knows I'm going to Borao. Another ship appeared on the monitor. It was unmistakably him.

He opened fire on the ship. I made a tight turn to get away from his firing. Tilo was not aiming for the engine, but at the cargo area.

A hand reached through the hatch behind me. I raced over to it and slammed it shut on the person's arm, sending blue blood gushing through the crevice.

The firing started again, aimed at the belly of the ship. What was in the crates? I dodged the last spray of gunfire. He continued to chase me and attempted to shoot out the bottom. I was bemused by the man's intentions. It all became clear when excessive beeping ensued below. I listened with a keen ear to the annoyance. It was bombs.

I made a large loop in the sky so Tilo could lose me from his sight. The ship was ahead of me now, right where I needed it. I pushed the button that opens the cargo door. While the door was monotonously opening, I accelerated to match the other ship's speed. I pulled up on the ship and watched the crates fall out with the people. The entire ship exploded into nothingness. I barely escaped. The shockwaves sent the ship swirling beyond my control until order was restored and the jostling halted.

I set coordinates to Borao with a light heart. For once all was quiet and at peace. I tried to reach out to Rey, but there was no energy sent back to me. I closed my eyes and tried harder. Frustration turned my stomach as I paced the deck. The thought of considering Tilo as a father brought disgrace to my morale as I contemplated all of the events the day has abused me with.

My thoughts were interrupted by the map. I was here. Borao teased me with its lush green surface and what it possessed- Rey.