Chapter Text
A shine of color. A blinding light. A loud explosion. The sand sinks beneath her feet, and she quickly weighs her options. Ahead, a Tie, his Tie, speeds towards a lone figure, lightsaber in her hand. To her right, a Wookie is surrounded by a group of Stormtroopers, unable to fight back. And to her left, four figures remain unaware, two human, and the others artificial. She has to make a choice. One that will change everything, or nothing if she gets it wrong. And so, she runs to her right, to the Wookie.
Her feet speed across the ground, picking up speed easily on the sand similar to the what she was raised on. She runs, faster and faster, ignoring the whirring of the approaching Tie. When the Troopers finally hear her approach, they all turn to face her, weapons raised. Before they can ask questions, or worse, she raises her hand and waves it in front of them.
"This transport is full."
"This transport is full." "Yah it is." "It's so full." They reply.
"Take him to the next."
"We'll take him to the next."
"On your way."
"On our way." The Trooper orders and they head off over the dunes and towards another transport, Chewie turning to glance at her one last time.
A crash sounds behind her and she whips around just in time to see the explosion. Her breath catches, and it takes all of her strength to keep herself upright.
"Rey!" She hears Finn yell and realizes that she is much too close. Running away from the transport, she finds a rock to hide behind that still allows her view of everyone. She sees Poe Dameron at the top of the rocks, Finn on the ground not even fifty feet in front of her, Rey next to him, and Ben Solo emerging from a burning Tie. She watches as the transport takes off and Rey whips around to it, her hand reaching out to pull it to the ground. She almost does, she would have, but Ben reaches out his hand too.
The transport is rocked back and forth, pulled in so many directions that the occupants have to have several concussions by now. Poe and Finn tense, unable to do anything but watch their friend battle the monster they believe he is.
She watches as it registers on the others faces, a horrible lie that she needed them to believe was true. Even Ben seems shaken by it, but does his best not to show it. She would have waited to see how it played out, but it all needs to go the way she wants. So she runs. Following the footsteps of the Troopers and the Wookie she sent away, she runs. She has to reach them before the transport leaves the ground. She barely does. When she reaches them just outside the transport, she waves her hand again.
"Let me board."
"Welcome aboard." She steps into the transport, leaning against the wall and catching her breath. She feels the transport take off and closes her eyes to collect herself. In the middle of the transport, Chewbacca growls.
"Thank me by never mentioning this to anyone." She hears the question in his reply but ignores him, straightening her First Order Officer Uniform. Between the meditation and the short distance they had to travel, they arrive rather quickly. As they land, she makes one final adjustment to her already spotless uniform and smoothes stands tall. When the door opens, she lets the other occupants walk out first, waiting for everyone who knew about her to leave sight. Then, she walks out head high, using every ounce of training she has to make it seem like she belongs.
"You. Halt." Well, she tried at least. She turns to face the speaker and sighs a breath of relief. General Hux walks towards her and she stands at attention. "Have you come from the planet?"
"Yes, sir." She responds with as much authority as possible.
"I do not believe we sent an officer to intercept the resistance." She smiles.
"And I do not believe they know who the spy is that brought them there. Should I tell them?" Hux's confidence disappears and she smiles wider. Everything is working perfectly.