Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Aftermath

14: Old Friends

Rey whirled her lightsaber while the assassin backed further away, blocking every blow she raised against him. They clashed expertly while Cass hugged Lalo tightly, covering his face. She didn't want to think about what would happen to him if Rey didn't win the battle.
The assassins amber eyes darted over Rey's moves, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Say, where'd you learn all your fancy tricks?"
"From someone better than you!" Rey hissed. The assassin was suddenly shoved back into the wall by an invisible force. He slumped to the ground, groaning. The blue lightsaber deactivated and rolled away.
"You took your time with that one, Rey," Cass mumbled. Rey glanced over her shoulder at the girl and surprisingly smiled at her.
"Dramatic effect," she winked. Cass felt the corners of her mouth turn up a little and she looked away before Rey could notice.
Rey turned back to the assassin. "Not so snarky now, huh?" she asked him.
The assassin rolled his eyes. "Eh? Oh, I won't be the only one coming after you, don't worry,"
He attempted to get up one last time and grabbed his remaining blaster, pointing it at Rey. He spun her around so she was trapped against the wall, quickly blasting her arm so she couldn't reach for her lightsaber. He pointed the weapon at her head. "So much better than a lightsaber, don't you think?" he winked, mocking Rey's earlier movement. Cass attempted to call out to her, but her entire body was frozen. She buried her face in Lalo's hair and shut her eyes tightly.
"See you in He-" the assassin cut off, looking down at his chest. A black blade protruded from the spot right next to his heart. His hand went limp on the blaster and they both crumpled to the ground. Rey locked eyes with Amaliea, still holding the Darksaber in her trembling hands. Her eyes were filled with tears and she was shaking uncontrollably.
Rey held her hand out and called out to the Force to assist her. She pushed her hand out and the ebony saber retreated back into its hilt, which Amaliea then shakily replaced in her satchel.
Rey threw her arms around the other girl and they stood silently, hugging each other, for a period of time that neither one bothered to count. Amaliea's tears had flooded down her face when they broke apart, but her shaking had thankfully ceased.
Jacen sat up groggily, holding his head. He noticed the body on their floor and Amaliea's tears. "So.. what'd I miss?" he asked weakly. Amaliea walked slowly back to him and lowered herself in defeat, sighing deeply.
Rey crouched down to the two children. She picked Lalo up and cradled him like he was much younger, while he wrapped his arms around her neck tightly and buried his face in her shoulder. Rey balanced him with one arm and held her other one out for Cass, who folded into her chest silently, tears wracking her body.
"That was so scary," Lalo fidgeted quietly. Cass lifted her face so her eyes would reach Reys.
"Was that true..? What he said, at the end? More will come after us?" Cass whispered to her while brushing away tears quickly. Rey sighed and closed her eyes. "There's no way to know."
They looked back over at the body of the assassin. Jacen was helped to his feet by Amaliea and he made his way to the pilots seat. He stopped and looked at Lalo for a second. He hesitated, and then planted a kiss on the child's head, making Lalo raise his head.
Jacen dropped down and looked to Amaliea. "Amal, I know you don't want to, but I need you to move him."
Amaliea shook her head. "Where to?" her voice hardened.
"His ship,"
She nodded shortly and dragged the body back to his vessel. Once she had, Jacen ejected the ship into space without hesitation. He turned back around and made the jump to hyperspace.
Rey released Lalo, who hopped into Jacen's lap. Tear streaks still shined on his cheeks as he raised his gaze to the glass.
Rey and Cass joined Amaliea on one of the bottom bunks, all three still supporting their injuries. The Mandolorian passed around a first aid kit from her satchel while Rey gazed at her.
"What?" Amaliea asked.
"That wasn't.. have you hurt..?" Rey struggled to find the correct words.
Amaliea paused from treating Cass's injury. She sighed and resumed. "I've killed First Order troops that have shown up on Lothal, I've beat up thugs in the city, I've exploded transports, bases, but Lothal has for the most part always been protected the Rebellion or my parents, or Ahsoka. I trained with her and her children growing up. And of course some ex-Imperials who joined our cause on Lothal. But i've never really killed... I don't know, somebody who felt alive," Amaliea squinted and glanced at the ceiling, thinking.
Rey nodded. She considered Amalieas words. "Imperials are real people, it just doesn't seem like it." she told her, thinking of Finn. Hmm, I should probably check up on him.. I haven't been in contact with Finn, Poe or Chewbacca in weeks.. Rey thought sheepishly, thinking of how worried they must be.
"Um.. I'm gonna go check up on some friends," she told the others. She made her way to second ship attached to Tams larger ship. It looked Clone Wars era, perhaps a Separatist ship. When she entered, she noticed art covering a large portion of each wall. While examining it, she sat down and activated the hypertransceiver that Maz had given her.
The transceiver beeped for a second, and then a familiar face appeared.
"Rose!" Rey cried happily. The short girl smiled. "Rey! Thank the moons you're alright. We've all been so worried," she said crossly. She waved somebody else into view. Poe Dameron frowned deeply as he noticed her. "Rey, where in all of the galaxy have you been?!" he cried. Rey groaned. "I, uh, I might be gone for a while," she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Why?!" came the unanimous response.
"I know I've been selfish, but I promise I'm safe.. for the most part," she added, smacking her lips nervously. "It's a Jedi thing,"
One more person appeared. He looked angrier that the other two combined. "Rey, you better get your Jedi ass back here this instant! The First Order is collapsing from the inside, and they are sending multiple assassins after you while taking their last breaths!" Finn cried furiously.
"That's.. actually pretty useful, thanks, Finn,"
"What do you mean?!"
"Well.. I was just attacked by one of these assassins," Rey gave a pained smile. Poe slammed a hand against his forehead, Finn groaned loudly and Rose just looked at her flatly.
"So.. I gotta go now.." Rey attempted to escape, making a move to turn off the transmitter to avoid getting yelled at more.
"No!" shouted all three hotly.
"When will you be back, Rey?" Rose asked with a voice of forced calm. Rey sighed and glanced at the ceiling, as if the painted face of a teal eyed man was going to help her.
"Probably in a year," Rey admitted. "My companions and I are trying to start a new Jedi Order,"
"Another one?" Poe asked despite himself.
"Uhh.. in a sense, yes. But it'll be different. We're taking in three children to train them, and hopefully then they'll train their own, and they will train their own, and so on..?" Rey attempted to read her friends blank expressions.
Rose was called away. She threw Rey one last look. "I don't like this," she told her as she exited from view.
"I agree. I have a bad feeling about it." Finn shook his head. "How old are these kids?"
"We have a seven year old and a fifteen year old,"
Poe scratched his head. "Pretty sure they're both a little old,"
"Well, like I said, this Jedi Order will be pretty different."
"Rey! We're almost there!" Cass called from outside.
"I need to go," she told her friends. Poe and Finn exchanged a long look. "Who are you with?" Finn asked.
"Well, both sets of their parents were in some way involved with the Rebellion,"
Poe squinted. "How involved?"
"Well, one of them is Jacen Syndulla."
Poe widened his eyes. "As in Hera Syndulla's son Jacen?" he asked. "She talked about him a lot,"
"Yeah, from what I know they were very close,"
"And the other one?" Finn cut in.
"Amaliea Bridger. Daughter of a Jedi and a Mandolorian,"
"Interesting mix," Poe laughed.
"Rey!" this time it was Jacen's voice coaxing her away.
"Okay, I really need to go now," Rey threw a look at the exit.
Finn sighed. "Fine, go do your Jedi business. I want weekly checkins or I'm sending someone to look for you!" he added, wagging a finger in her direction. Rey sighed, blew them both a kiss and shut off the hologram.
"So, we here?" she asked the others as she entered the larger ship.
"Yup," Amaliea leaned back in her seat.
"Welcome to Varadan," Jacen called from the front, making a tch noise and scrunching his face up in disapproval.
"Why is Varadan so bad?" Cass asked uneasily. Amaliea crossed her arms and glared at the planet.
"It's a desert mining planet. Thousands of slaves." she shook her head.
"Oh.." Cass glanced back at Jacen, whos thick green eyebrows were knitted together. "Evie's mom was enslaved once. Lorai almost was, when she was five." the corner of Amalieas mouth twitched bitterly.
Rey exhaled deeply. "So.. that means we're either going to raise a slave.. or a slaver."

About the picture at the top, that's roughly what everybody looks like. I drew this last month I think, so that's why it's not great :,)