Saving the Monster

Chapter 8

All four of them turned in the direction of the voice, and stopped.  There, stood before them was a human male, his face half hidden by a mask. Rey looked at Chewbacca. The Wookie tilted his head on one side and then let out a roar, rushing forwards as if to attack. The man never faltered as Chewbacca reached him, wrapping his arms around the man in an affectionate embrace and grunting softly.

Finally they broke apart, the man tapping the Wookies arm fondly and then he reached up and removed his mask. Rey's mouth fell open in awe as she took in the face of the man before her, Lando Calrissian, a resistance hero, known galaxy wide. Although he was far older than the pictures Rey had seen, she would know his face anywhere.

Poe and Finn apparently felt the same, letting out auditable gasps as they too recognised the man before them.

"Chewie these must be fellow resistance members, aren't you going to introduce me?" Lando said, already smiling at Rey. She had heard stories about his way with women and so she took care to be polite and remain business like as she held her hand out for him to shake.

"I'm Rey and this is Poe and Finn" she said, gesturing with her free hand. Lando took her hand in his but instead of shaking it he bowed his head and kissed it, raising his eyes to look at her as he drew back. Rey was cross with herself as she felt her cheeks grow warm, only made worse by Poe and Finns smirks.

"Good to meet you all, but what brings you out this way? Han getting too old for travel?" Lando said laughing, his joy fading from his face as he watched eyes drop to the ground and witnessed one of Chewbaccas most agonising cries, his head held back, the sound echoing through the bar and disturbing disgruntled looking locals. "How?" Lando asked finally. Rey glanced between Poe and Finn, what were they supposed to tell him? That Hans own son killed him, that he thrust a lightsaber blade through his fathers heart? Rey wasn't sure.

When no one answered Lando huffed air out noisily, signalling his irritation, "Fine, I'll wait to ask Luke, he'll tell me"

Rey wanted to cry. Luke, another friend that he was going to mourn.

When again no one said anything and Chewbaccas head fell into his hands Lando wrinkled his forehead, "No, no come on, not Luke, Luke was strong, something special, I....." he trailed off, his hand rubbing at his eyes, when he moved his hand his face had become serious and lost that flirty edge that he liked to play, "Tell me the princess is ok, tell me that at least"

It took Rey a moment to realise that he was talking about Leia! She had forgotten that she was royalty. Rey's mind as ever made the connection and his face appeared. Not Kylo Rens this time, but Ben Solos. He was royalty then, the son of a princess, she'd not even thought about his bloodline, save for knowing that he was Leia and Hans son.

"She's fine, she sent us here looking for supplies, troops, ship parts, anything we could find."  Poe said. 

Lando looked at him, "Well why didn't you say?  I have food stocks to last a month.  Ship parts and people though, that's another matter".  Lando paused before he spoke again, "Tell me, what happened to Han?"