Saving the Monster

Chapter 13

Inside the bar reminded Rey of Maz's place on Takodana. Every species imaginable sat around chatting or drinking, some even dancing to the steady rhythm played by the in house band.

Rey went to lower her hood but Poe caught her arm, "Don't" , he hissed nodding his head in the direction of the bar. Rey froze, moving her eyes only and finding two First Order stormtroopers standing there, their hands resting on their blasters.

They made it to the back of the bar and Rey saw Poe close his eyes for a moment and take a deep breath before he headed through a beaded curtain and disappeared from sight. Rey shot Finn and Chewbacca a cautious glance before pushing through the curtain herself.

The sound of the curtains beads jangling was soon replaced by raised voices.

"You have one hell of a nerve, showing up here Dameron!" Came a female voice.

Rey rounded a corner and found a female, around the same height as her, a golden helmet on her head, it's visor up to show human eyes and a burgundy jump suit fitted to her slim physique. Rey guessed this was Zorri, Poes long lost love.

There was certainly no love between them on this night though, Rey thought as she watched the argument unfold, Poe trying to defend himself, the woman biting back.

Finally Rey stepped in, her hands raised in a peaceful gesture. The woman's head spun quickly towards Rey, seeming to only notice that she had company at that point,

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" She hissed, her eyes taking in Rey and the others.

"Look I'm sorry for whatever Poe did to you..." Rey began, Poe rolled his eyes as Rey went on, "but we just need shelter for the night, we're on a scavenging run, that's all, just trying to survive" Rey finished, lifting down her hood.

She saw the woman's eyes go wide through the slit in her helmet and she pointed a gloved finger at Rey, "You, you're the one they're looking for"

Rey straightened and Poe, Finn and Chewbacca looked firstly at her, then at Zorri and then back to Rey again.

"Who's looking for me?" Rey asked, already knowing the answer.

Zorri stepped closer, "The First Order, word is that you killed their leader, there's a price on your head.....but don't worry, they want you alive". With saying that Zorri whipped out her stun pistol, but she wasn't fast enough. Rey was not only carrying her saber but was also concealing her staff under her cloak and she whipped it out, hitting the back of Zorri's legs with it and sending her tumbling backwards to the floor with a grunt.

Rey held the staff to Zorri's neck, "We need your help. I see what's happening here, the First Order are sweeping in, soon they'll start taking the children from the city. We are from the resistance, we're trying to snuff the First Order out, end this reign of terror. Please, we need your help"

For a moment the woman on the floor stayed motionless, her eyes moving to look at Poe and in them Rey saw the same pain that she had seen in Poes eyes when he had first spoken of her.

"Would it help if Poe apologised?" Rey asked.

Below her the woman's eyes creased and Rey knew that she was smiling, "Yeah, that would help" Zorri said, the smile now evident in her voice.

Both women's eyes moved to look at Poe and his shoulders sagged, his mouth falling open. Rey raised her brows and heard Finn utter a giggle from behind his hand. Poe shifted his weight and crossed his arms tightly,

"I'm sorry Zorri, I was a dick..." Poe began, "

"A total dick" Zorri added.

Poe looked up at the ceiling and sighed, "Ok, a total dick, and I'm sorry. Now we done here?"

Rey looked at Zorri who nodded her head and Rey removed her staff and helped the other woman to her feet.

The air was still frosty between Zorri and Poe as Zorri helped them lay out makeshift beds around the workshop that also seemed to double as her home. 

Finally they were settled and Rey lay down next to Finn.  She smiled at him sleepily and he reached over to squeeze her hand,

"Rey?" He said, his voice a whisper,

"Mmmm" Rey said, her eyes closing.

"Did you kill Snoke?"

The question threw Rey and she opened her eyes to look at him, unsure of how to answer. 

When she didn't respond Finn sat up, "Look Rey, I don't know what happened that night, but something did, something you're not telling me, something you should share"

Rey sighed, her hand covering her eyes wearily, "There's nothing to tell, apart from the truth, I didn't kill Snoke, Kylo Ren did"

Finns brows drew together but he could see by her face that she wasn't lying to him, and sensing that she wasn't going to say anymore, he lay down. His face still held a worried look on it, a look that Rey was used to seeing now when her friends looked at her.

Finally everyone but Rey was asleep.  She had tried, tossing and turning on the uncomfortable bed but sleep hadn't come to her, only thoughts of him. 

Finally Rey got up, pulling on her cape and walking quietly out of the back door of the workshop, she needed some air.

The streets were empty now, just icy snowflakes dancing around on a light breeze.  The sound of troops marching sent Rey back into the doorway she had come from, her heart racing.

When all was quiet she stepped out again and gasped, there in front of her, covered by a red cracked helmet stood Kylo Ren.