REY

Three
days have passed, and it is morning on the desert. The huge, golden sun rose over the edge of the barren world, and its rays fell on a lonely sand train that was already on the move due to the winds.

It's cruel heat beat down, it's one malevolent eye unblinking, and the sky was its co-conspirator with not even a wisp of cloud to soften the harsh rays. The lizards took shelter in the shadows of the rocks where the sand was not hot enough to roast them. Each step sunk into the searing sand, the air was thick and hazy, each breath like drowning in lava.

I ran out of the water a few hours ago. Currently, I'm holding back the horrible urge to feast on the food portions I have left.

What am I doing out here? Who was that voice in my head? Alright, I have officially lost my sanity.

"Luke.." I muttered darkly as I squinted through my tinted goggles at the rising sand dune ahead.

I blame him for me meandering out here alone in the heat, chapped lips, scorched skin and aching head.

"Follow the force he said, you'll find what you're looking for as long as you follow something you can't even see! Brilliant! Bloody fantastic!" I begin to vent my complaints out loud and wildly gesturing through the air, balling my hands into fists.

* * *

Another hour quickly went by. The heat lapping up my energy with every foot fall into the steaming sand. The headache from earlier had made a triumphant return, it felt as if someone was beating war drums just behind the skin of my forehead.

I can't. I just need a break-

My knees collapse into the sinking sand. The sun was almost low in the sky, signaling nightfalls approach. Soon the cool air will be upon me and I can make camp.

I wonder what Chewie and R-2 are doing right now. Probably playing at the sabacc table bored out of their minds.

I raise my neck up slowly to burrow my hand into my rucksack. I dig out the small communicator that Chewie gave me before I left, just for calling them to my location to pick me up.

Reassurance flooded my system as my hand grasped the hot metal of the communicator, I left it as it was and craned my neck to view the vast blue sky, it was quickly becoming night.

The days must be younger here, than Jakku. I thought.

Also unlike Jakku, Tatooine has beautiful, rocky cliffs and overhangs that skim the edges of sand dunes and provide safety and shade. Using the strength I have left I begin to make my way across a stray dune, over to a lone overhang that casts a long black shadow.

I let out loud heavy breaths as I turn around to where my back is facing the overhangs rocky wall and then collapse my bum into the soft, cool sand.

"Ppffffff..." I blow a sigh through my lips as I rest my elbows on my knees and swing my head back after ripping off my goggles and head wrap. I say for a while and watched the sun drop out of the sky, sucking away the blue and spitting out the purples and pinks as it sets.

My eyelids mimicked the weight of lead, they hung over my tired eyes as the moon soon rose above the sandy horizon and the bliss of sleep rapidly took over me.

* * *

"Rey." A voice near me said, but I ignored it, rolling over on my side.

A short, silent lapse of time passed but again the voice persisted, "Rey."

I moaned and covered my head with my hands as I roll again but to my opposite side.

"Rey, I won't ask again, wake up." It sounded like a man and a rude one at that. Memories of yesterday and the days before flooded my mind, images of the desert, the hot sun and sand.

What is a man doing in the middle of the desert? Why am I cold?

My eyes snap open, the first difference in scenery is the man squatting in front of me, his nose almost touching mine as he peers into my eyes.

"Ah!" I reach for my staff but my body freezes up. I can't move my limbs and my eyes are frozen on the man's face as he holds his hand up to hinder my progress to grab my weapon.

His hair was longer and brown. My mind instantly brings up a memory in front of my eyes of Kylo Ren, but I soon pushed that image away as I scrunch my nose in disgust. My eyes scan the old scar running down his tanned skin and brown eye. He has predominant pale, pink lips and jaw line and bold shoulders and neck from what I can see but he was draped in brown robes over a black tunic.

"Finally." He says while letting out a breath, "I was worried you were..." He trailed off with a dry, humorless laugh but quickly changed the subject.

"I'm not going to hurt you, so when I let go, I'm going to have to ask you to drop your weapon."

He waved his hand once again in front of my face and something cold immediately comes in contact with my hand. I look over to my right hand that was now holding my staff. My eyes show fascination and bewilderment as I look back up at him in surprise.

"You're- you're a Jedi? Who are you? Wh-what are you doing here in the middle of the desert?" Questions stammer out of my mouth and I instantly regret it from slight embarrassment.

"If I didn't know you than I would be asking you the same questions. But fortunately, I do know you, so we don't have to play that little game." He said with light eyes as he effortlessly stood to full, towering height and offered me his hand.

I sat staring at it.

It was mechanical.

"I would think you are used to robotic hands from your time with Luke, but I guess not." He smirks and switches hands to his fleshly one.

How did he know I know Luke?

I scooted backward to where my back hit the stone of the overhang.

"Are you from The First Order?" I ask threateningly, my eyes growing cold as I glare in his direction.

"Yes and no. Now get up." He says orderly and grabs my hand after bending down and sent me sailing towards him in a matter of seconds.

I inhale a short gasp in surprise as my forehead smacked against a leather belt around his tunic.

I let out a groan and rubbed my head, stepping away from him to grab my things.

"Good. Now, follow me." He says as I grab my staff, rucksack, face wrap and goggles. I turn to see him a good way ahead of me already. I jog up to him to keep a good pace, my eyes travel to the sky that was now turning light purple as the sun rises.

"Hey!" I called out to his back as I approached, "you never answered me, who are you?" I was now right next to him, trudging through the sand once again.

"I did answer you, I just didn't answer your question." He replied bluntly.

Aren't you an arrogant bast-

"I'de rethink that." He side smiled and looked over at me as I glared up at him.

Who is this guy? And why do I want to kill him? I asked myself as my eyebrows furrowed at my internal struggle.

"You can't kill me." He said mellowly to the air, replying to my thoughts.

"Stop that! And I've been trained by the best, I think I could take you." I assert myself while staring straight ahead. Beads of sweat already began to ball up above my lip and around my temples. I take my stray hand and wipe them away with irritation.

I look over to him next to me, scanning his face.

He isn't sweating. A perplexing look took over my features. How is he not-

He broke my thoughts by suddenly speaking, "Why do you think the force guided you to this system to find your crystal?" It was a question but it sounded more like a demand.

My walk slowed as my mind stewed over his question. To be honest, I have no idea. I've never even been to this planet until now, let alone heard of it.

"I'm not sure," I replied truthfully, shaking my head slightly.

How did he know about that...

I look over at his face once more. He just nodded and kept walking, avoiding my gaze.

Silence ensued. We walk and we walk. Motivation in me is lacking because I have no idea where he is leading me. My heart rate is beginning to accelerate along with the burning in my calves, I try to ignore the pain.

Did I have any idea where I was going before? At least I'm not alone anymore.

True, but this guy seems like a jerk and he won't even explain to you who he is! And what does 'yes and no,' mean?

"Stop." He ordered and stops walking.

I walk a little ahead of him before I notice but then turn around to face him.

"What are you doing-" I was asking until I notice.

He's gone.

What? He was just there! Oh no, is this heat sickness again? Did I imagine him?

I instinctively put a hand to my head as I gape at the spot where he was just standing.

Suddenly his voice filled my ears and I winced at the pain.

"Brace yourself." He said, right before the ground from under me collapsed and then next thing I know is, I'm falling.

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