Saving the Monster

Chapter 9

Rey sat opposite Lando in the corner booth of the bar and watched as he absorbed the news. He shook his head slowly, "Ben killed Han? I can't believe it".

Rey took pity on the man in front of her and reached a hand across the table to touch his hand. He jumped but his eyes met hers, "Ben Solo didn't kill Han, Kylo Ren did".

Lando nodded but it seemed to offer him little comfort, "Poor Leia" he mumbled, "and Ben, he was such a lovely boy, so clever, so inquisitive". Rey listened intently, imagining a younger version of the man that haunted her mind. She could imagine that he was clever and certainly inquisitive. There was so much that she wanted to ask Lando. He was after all someone who knew the real Ben Solo, before his heart was turned to the dark side. But she couldn't, she knew that, it wasn't the right time, not when he had just learned that two of his friends had passed away, one of them at Bens hands.

The bartender came by then, wiping the table and grunting something in its native tongue.  Rey hardly noticed.

"We've loaded the supplies on the Falcon" came Poes voice and Rey looked up to find her three friends heading over to the table that she shared with Lando. 

"Ready to go Rey?" Finn asked, his hand squeezing her arm.  She nodded, rising to her feet. 

Before she could leave the table though Landos hand shot out and gripped hers. "Send my love to Leia"

"Come with us" Rey said softly.  Chewbacca roared in agreement.

Lando looked around the noisy bar and then shook his head.

Rey sighed and nodded at Lando once, heading out into the sunshine, leaving Poe, Finn and Chewbacca to thank him for the supplies.

It was hot outside, sand whipping around Rey's ankles.  Giggling Aki-Aki younglings scampered past.  Rey closed her eyes, despite the heat she felt a coolness on her skin and suddenly the air was thick and heavy all around her, it was a feeling that she hadn't felt in a long time, not since.........

Rey's eyes became wide just as the sun ducked behind a cloud and everything went grey and then he was there, right in front of her, the first time since Crait when she had closed the door on him.