Chapter Text
Rachel Bliss, more commonly known as "Rey" among her family and friends, stared at the official-looking envelope from the Skywalker Institute of Science. She had applied to the program months ago, and if she were accepted, it promised to be an incredible opportunity for her.
If she were turned down...well, she'd just be devastated.
Finally plucking up the courage to open it, she ripped the top open and eagerly began reading.
Dear Ms. Rachel Bliss,
We are pleased to offer you a place in the summer internship here at the Skywalker Institute of Science!
We are confident that our program will help you develop your skills and advance in your field of study.
Your internship will begin Friday, June 11.
The MV Milleneum Falcon will leave Chandrila Harbor at 10 am EST and will bring you to our headquarters on the island of Ach To.
You will be expected to participate in group activities and trainings from the first day on the ship.
Find enclosed a list of supplies and apparel you should bring.
Best wishes,
The Skywalker Institute of Science
Rey was already jumping up and down, squealing and grabbing her phone.
She couldn't wait to call her sister, Zorii, and tell her the news.
She knew that Zorii, as a graduate student, was going as a student instructor.
It was one of many reasons Rey wanted to go on the trip, since they hadn't gotten to spend much time together since Zorii had moved to Chandrila, New York.
"Zorii!" Rey exclaimed, as soon as her sister had picked up the phone. "I just got my letter! I'm going to Ach To!"
"I knew you'd get in," Zorii replied, just as excited. "I did put in a good word for you, but you're so smart, you would have got in anyway."
"I'm just, so overwhelmed," Rey said. "I can't believe I'm going to be living on Ach To for the summer. I haven't even told Mom and Dad yet!"
"This is so exciting!" Zorii said. "You'll finally get to meet Ben!"
"Who?" Rey asked.
"Only your future brother-in-law, silly!" Zorii exclaimed flippantly.
"Oh, you're engaged?!" Rey said. "Why didn't you tell me? That's so exciting!"
"Well, we aren't technically engaged," Zorii replied. "But, I really feel like he might be the one."
"Oh, so you're soulmates?" Rey asked, a little hesitantly.
"Well..." Zorii sounded a little more uncertain now. "I mean, we didn't experience all the tingly feelings and reading each others' emotions and all that stuff some people talk about. But I don't know if I believe in all that mumbo jumbo anyway. "
"You don't believe in soulmates?" Rey asked incredulously.
"Well, I mean, maybe you do, but I just don't know, " Zorii replied. "I'm just trying to have a good life, and if Ben is the one, then that's great, but I think that soulmates stuff is exaggerated."
Rey was stunned by this statement. She never realized Zorii felt that way about soulmates.
"Well, does Ben know how you feel about it?" she asked after a moment.
"We haven't really talked about it," Zorii said. "We've been dating for almost six months now though, so...maybe I should ask him sometime soon."
"Maybe you shouldn't wait too long," Rey suggested. "He may not want to commit himself to someone else right away if he does."
Zorii laughed nervously. "Yeah, you're probably right. He did seem pretty interested when we were together last week, though. We went dancing at the Yavin Ballroom. So...yeah, it looks like things are going well between us. I mean, I know it's soon, but I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him."
"I'm glad," Rey said, trying to sound nonchalant, even though her heart was pounding. She was incredibly happy for her sister. She knew what a lucky girl Zorri was to have found a man as wonderful and caring and sweet as Ben seemed to be?
But she felt uneasy. And it was something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Anyway, you should come to Chandrila before the trip," Zorii went on. "I could show you around."
"That would be great," Rey said with a smile. "I can't wait to see you."
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Rey arrived in Chandrila a couple days early so she could spend some time with Zorri before the ship left port and their time was taken up by lectures and the various activities on the ship.
The two sisters spent the day shopping for new clothes and going on a tour of New York City. They went from the Empire State Building to Rockefeller Center, enjoying every moment they had together.
Ben was busy with his mother a lot of the time, so Rey didn't actually get to meet him until the day before the ship was set to leave.
But Ben had told Zorii he would take them out to dinner at Canto Bight and would send a car to pick them up at 7.
"Just what kind of place is this?" Rey asked, pulling on a long glove to go with the evening gown she was wearing.
The dress was dark blue and made of shimmery material.
"It's a really fancy place where all the richest and most powerful people in the city go," Zorii said, "Chances are you might run into some interesting people. We might even see a celebrity!"
"I feel like this is something you and Ben should be doing alone," Rey said uncertainly. "I feel like I'm intruding."
"Oh, don't be silly," Zorii said, fluffing her own elaborate hairstyle. "You don't know when the last time was that we actually got out and saw each other. And I really want you to meet Ben!"
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The restaurant was refined, elegantly designed and lined with a broad curving bar. The room was full of well-dressed people all laughing and talking animatedly.
Rey felt like she had stepped into a scene from the Crimson Dawn Syndicate - it was so lavish and opulent with a window that overlooked the city.
Ben stood to greet them when he saw them approach the table.
"You look beautiful," he said, kissing Zorii lightly on the cheek. He turned slightly to glance at Rey and seemed to freeze for just a moment, lips slightly parted.
Rey smiled shyly at him, though her heart was pounding in her ribcage.
This was Ben? Her sister's boyfriend?
He was...well, he was hot, no doubt about it. His facial features were not conventionally handsome, but they somehow worked and he had this rugged quality about him that she found utterly appealing.
He was very tall, with broad shoulders and deep brown eyes. And his black hair was so thick and wavy that she had a sudden urge to run her fingers through it.
Totally inappropriate, of course. He was her sister's boyfriend!
"Nice to finally meet you, Rey," Ben said finally, breaking Rey out of her reverie. He squeezed Rey's gloved hand, which she had offered upon introduction.
"Nice to meet you, too, Ben," Rey said. "It's funny, but I feel like I've known you for a long time already. Zorri talks about you all the time."
"I feel the same way," Ben said, looking at Rey intently." I've heard so many stories about you from Zorii, I feel like I do know you, kind of."
"Okay, I get it," Zorri chimed in, causing them both to look her way. "I'm a blabbermouth. I can't help it if I want the two most important people in my life to know about each other!"
Rey shook her head, conscious of the fact that she had been staring.
She was totally screwed.