Star Wars: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 33

Rey was sat in her tent, her legs tucked under her and an open Jedi text on her lap. She was staring at a translation that Leia had made.

After so many hours of calm, her grief hit her again.

She took a long sip of water and sighed.

C-3P0 and Maz approached her but she didn't notice them, lost deep in thought.

"Rey?" Maz said after a pause.

She looked up at them and put the books to one side.

"Since you have been gone, there have been any number of improvements made to your...living quarters," C-3P0 said, "The large hole at the far end has been covered, that side has had a new support strut placed. I oversaw them myself."

"Thank you, 3P0; it's much better."

The droid noticed the Jedi texts. He shifted his head and took a step closer, "Have you...made your own translations?"

His tone was comically outraged.

Neither of them knew how to respond to his question.

"But that is one of my primary functions!" he exclaimed, "If I am not going to be consulted with important translations what is my purpose?"

Rey held the torn book towards him, "Alright: translate it."

His bent arms awkwardly took the book and scanned it for a few seconds.

"I do not know this language," he said returning it.

"So you are unable to translate it?" Maz asked.

He ignored her question and turned to Rey, "This is very peculiar! Were you aware of this?"

"Given that you didn't know the language for the first half of this book, I assumed you wouldn't be able read the second part from Takodana."

"Well," C-3P0 said, "I see. What a day!"

Maz closed her eyes as she smiled.

He walked away muttering to himself, "My help not needed! Six million languages! Why am I even here? R2 will never let me hear the end of this."

"I should have hidden them," Rey said tiredly.

"Perhaps but he'd have found out soon enough," Maz said sitting on Rey's camp bed, "Do you need anything child?"

Rey sniffed, "Nothing possible."

Maz rested a hand over Rey's, "Sorrow is a sharp and tender feeling, but in time it lessens and passes. Let yourself mourn your loss, feel it all...then when the time is right, let it go."

"When will that be?"

"You will know."

"I can't see it ever coming."

Maz smiled kindly and sadly, "Right now it seems impossible...but you will mend."

Sighing Rey sat back in her chair and looked away into the jungle around them, "It still doesn't feel real."

"...No it doesn't."

"But you're right...I need to keep going and...hope that it will get easier."

"It will," Maz said.

Rey offered her the Jedi texts and they started to read in silence.