Saving the Monster

Chapter 59

After they had cleaned themselves up in the bathroom Ben retired to the sofa, but not before giving Rey a kiss that made her want to take him back to her bed again.

When Rey awoke the next morning she flicked on her lamp.  The trouble with being in a cave she thought was that it was always half dark no matter what time of day it was.  She stretched her arms above her head and lay for a moment thinking about the night before, a smile creeping onto her lips. 

Noise from the kitchen brought Rey's mind back to the here and now and she groaned as she thought of the enormity of the task before them.  Rey dressed quickly, leaving her hair down and heading out into the kitchen and living area of the cave.

She stopped abruptly, pulling her door shut behind her as she came face to face with both Lando and Ben sat at the kitchen table, a map of the galaxy stretched between them, steaming mugs of something sweet smelling sat to one side.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to oversleep" Rey said quietly, making her way over to the table where the two men sat.

Lando smirked, "Maybe you had a busy night?"

Rey's eyes widened and her mouth moved wordlessly, Bens doing the same, both of their cheeks colouring. 

Lando waved a hand carelessly in the air, "Don't worry about it, your secrets safe with me.  Rey grab yourself a mug of half caf before it gets cold"

Blushing wildly Rey poured the dark hot liquid into a stone coloured mug and slid in next to Ben, her little finger linking with his under the table.

"What's been decided?"  Rey asked, sensing that Lando already knew the story and knowing that between him and Ben they would have already cooked up a plan.

"For a few years after the fall of the Empire there was peace in the galaxy.  People who were fighting before got to go home, to be with their families.  Chewbacca went home, to Kashyyyk.  Han hated the peace, he was strange like that, always happiest whilst living life on the edge so we traveled, much to Leias annoyance.  We spent at least a week on Kashyyyk.  The Wookie General, Tarfful told me then that if I ever needed them then they would come, especially if Chewbacca was being threatened"

Rey, who had been studying the map looked up, "Do you think he meant it?"

Lando knocked back the last of his half caf and wiped his lips with the back of his hand, "We'll soon find out"

Rey's eyes widened, "We're going there?"

Ben nodded, "I spent a lot of time with Chewbacca when I was a child, they're very loyal, if they know that Chewbacca is at risk, they'll join us"

"Ok.  Kashyyyk it is then" Rey said, sipping the hot drink and wincing at its bitter taste as she swallowed it down.

Lando laughed as he watched her, "It's good stuff ain't it?"

**************************************

They left shortly after, Ben and Rey working as pilot and co-pilot and Lando sat to one side, hunched over, leaning on his stick.

"You know they'll open fire when they see a First Order ship approaching, especially one with Kylo Ren onboard" Lando mused, breaking the silent tension that had settled over the ship.

Ben turned, "So what do you suggest?"

Lando shrugged, "Could try to make a transmission, make contact before we touch down, we should be close enough for them to pick it up, we're almost there by my reckoning"

Rey picked up the intercom, her finger hovering over the red button and holding it close to her mouth.

Ben glanced at Rey, "You speak Wookie?"

"A little, enough to get by at the trading post in Jakku" Rey said, her mind trailing off to her past life amongst the dusty sand. Bens hand coming to rest on hers brought her out of her thoughts and she cleared her throat before pressing the button and waiting for a response.

Static as the com searched for nearby receivers and then a loud click and the unmistakable, deep growl of a Wookie.