Chapter Text
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The blaring heat of Jakku’s white-hot sun beat down onto the back of Rey as she made her way into Market Square. Every muscle in her body ached as she dragged forth her day’s haul– unimportant, scraps of metal scavenged from a far-off battle site– towards Unkar Plutt’s trading post.
Her sandy brown hair, loosely styled into three buns that lined her head like a triceratops, felt like pure fire underneath the burning sun. She’d had no problem transporting her load to the square- prior to the abstract shaped speeder she often traveled on powering down from lack of fuel. She vowed to fill it up after trading–she wouldn’t get far without it.
She eventually managed to pull her scraps into the tapestry-shaded square. Unkar Plutt was waiting for her. An expression of pity was displayed across his regularly beady face, but Rey took no notice as she piled her scavenges onto the countertop.
Her eyes widened in surprise as he proceeded to shove the parts behind him, and slapped five entire food portions onto the counter separating them.
She grabbed them desperately before he could change his mind, and stated flatly, “Thank you.”
Instead of shrugging and turning away as a signal to get out of his sight, as per usual, Unkar Plutt sighed. “Good luck.” But before Rey could ask for an explanation as to why she needed good luck, he pulled down his shade. He wasn’t going to go any further into depth– so she set out to looking at the Market booths instead, confused but pushing the query to the back of her mind.
It seemed a deep dread had settled across the inhabitants of Jakku, for none of them were even attempting to bargain aggressively for purchasable items. The Market Square was almost always in a state of reckless chaos over simple items– today, it was melancholy and depressing to behold.
The only time anyone acted as such was the few weeks leading up to the annual Hunger Games. Rey looked to the Capitol-issued stage that stood, imposing, a few hundred feet away from where she was standing. That stage was where the reaping– or choosing of children to “play” in the year’s Games– took place, and with it, a symbol of fear among every child on Jakku.
Almost every planet in the Outer Rim had one, especially seeing as the planets outside of central space were loosely governed. The stage stood, proud and intimidating, as a show of power– we can take your citizens and kill them whenever we want to.
But, they only had one Hunger Games per year, and the last one had only happened five months ago. Besides, Rey had already aged out of the target age– she had no need to worry about such trivial and unimportant things anymore.
So she perused the booths, searching for an explanation of why everyone was acting so strange.
She ended up stumbling over the leg of a jewelry stand that was directly in front of her foot. “Watch it!” An older woman snarled, pulling away the stand and causing the jewelry to rattle.
“Sorry.” Rey apologized as she regained her footing.
The woman sighed. “It’s alright, dear. We’re all a bit on edge today.” As if to prove her point, her hands that were trying to untangle her mess of delicate chains shook under the strain.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why is everyone on edge today? It’s all so peculiar to me,” Rey confessed. She considered helping the woman with her jewelry, fidgeting her hand towards the stand, but thought better of it when she realized she’d most likely end up making it into a bigger mess than before.
“You don’t know?” The woman seemed genuinely surprised by Rey’s ignorance. She shook her head in disbelief.
“The First Order is scheduled to arrive today. We don’t know why– but after Astorrtun, everyone fears the worst.”
Astorrtun was a planet neighboring Jakku, suspected to have been involved in Rebel Alliance negotiations. Rey had only heard rumors of the great Resistance– and how the First Order would stop at nothing to crush them beneath its heavy machinery and manpower. This was why half of the planet had been taken into slavery– the other half had simply been destroyed by the First Order's might.
Rey said nothing–she couldn’t think up anything worth uttering aloud. However, a sudden sparkle in the peripheral of her eye caught her interest then– and she grabbed the small ring from the woman’s collection of jewelry to get a closer look.
Intrigue turned to shock as she instantly recognized what it was– “How in the galaxy did you acquire one of these?!”
The gold and red Resistance pin shimmered with the unmistakable symbol of the Rebel Alliance, and Rey gasped. Instantly the woman hissed, “Put that away!” And snatched the ring from her grasp.
“I’m not sure how this got into my selling stock,” She said, now confused, “but there’s a reason that this contraband isn’t flashed about in public!” She then flicked a minuscule switch on the backside of the ring, and the design faded into black instantly. Now that the illegal accessory was hidden, the woman smiled at Rey.
“Could’ve been in great trouble if anyone else had seen such a thing. Executed on sight, no doubt. Lucky, very lucky.” It was if Rey wasn’t even there, the woman was muttering to herself as she began closing up shop for the night.
“How do you know I won’t report you now?” Rey questioned after a long moment of her silence. They’d never even met, how could she somehow guess her intentions–or lack of– so correctly?
Curious, as to why the woman acted as though all of Jakku was out to get her, and yet ignored the possible, imposing threat right in front of her.
The woman smiled, her chestnut eyes twinkling with an all-knowing appearance. “Somehow, I know that you’ll stay quiet about this.” She replied, and then did something unexpected– she shoved the ring into Rey’s open palm and covered it with both hands.
“The Resistance is everywhere,” she whispered, “And girl, we could really use strong women like you.”
Rey looked down to the ring with a thousand questions, the first one being why the old woman seemed so afraid of the First Order and yet so intent on fighting it- but the interrogatory thoughts disappeared as a deafening chorus of Imperial ships landed upon the surface of Jakku.
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Every eye in the Market Square snapped to the crisply pressed, uniformed body that stepped out from the nearest TIE Fighter in shining black boots. The officer walked onto the First Order stage with such power and purpose, no one was able to look away.
“Greetings, nobel citizens of Jakku. I am Lieutenant Colonel Ree, and I come bearing a message from the First Order President Snoke himself.”
The girl spoke with intense conviction through a voice enhancer. Her posture was stiff, her dark locks styled into an immaculate side braid underneath her Imperial-grade cap that not one stray hair could escape from.
Rey could immediately tell Lieutenant Colonel Ree was from Jelucan, another outer-rim planet, by her dark skin and dark eyes. Rey shuddered–Jelucani were known for their esteemed pride and honor, and this girl appeared as though she’d smother a small animal if her Order demanded it from her.
Rey watched as the Imperial stormtroopers and other militia set to work, placing an oversized hologram projector- or holo- onto the stage surface in front of them. “As we speak, our officers are spreading out across your planet to deliver this very important message,” Ree added. This girl seemed extremely proud of her Order, Rey thought to herself.
Everyone in Market Square stood, silent yet alert, until a colossal projection of President Snoke rose into the air in front of them.
“Greetings, Jakku.” Every word Snoke spoke was painfully slow, as if he was purposely drawing them out like the slithering snake he was.
Rey gasped as the horrifying projection clarified, and President Snoke's horrendous face came into view. The familiar symbol of First Order dictatorship, everyone in the galaxy was raised to fear the beast or be slaughtered. Rey had a difficult time keeping her temper level as he continued speaking to the people he forcefully ruled.
“I’m here right now to inform you, that the 8th annual Hunger Games has been brought forth from the first solstice and will start in two weeks.”
Although Snoke had said it as slow as he possibly could, Rey couldn’t wrap her head around what she had just heard.
The annual Hunger Games always took place on the first solstice- it was only 5 months ago that it’d happened last. Why were they having another one of the sickening games so soon after?
The rules of the game were simple- stay alive in the barbaric arena they put you in, kill or be killed. To determine the 48 tributes, Imperial Officials would travel to the outlying planets and have what they called a “reaping”- two boys and two girls aged between 12-18 were picked from each planet to fight to the death for triumph, honor, and riches.
There was no real winner, ever- only one left standing. Whoever it was usually got enslaved by the First Order into mentoring proceeding generations in the match.
Imperial officials moved around the Market Square with ease, immediately wringing out the eligibles upon sight- Rey, however, didn’t notice that only women were being chosen… women HER age.
“There’s something different about this year’s Hunger Games,” Snoke drawled out, a wrinkle appearing in his forehead as he smiled his ghastly smile.
“Not only has the age limit been severely changed, as it is now ages 19-29, but…” when he stopped again, Rey had to pinch her nails into the soft flesh of her palms to stop her groan of anger.
The dastardly being wouldn’t speed up his horrid voice, and she couldn’t stand it. But her anger turned to horror as he proceeded–
“...only females will take place in this spin-off Games.”
And then, as the hard blow of realization hit her, Rey was being grabbed by the arms of two stormtroopers, pulling her into an enclosed area separated by horizontal ropes. Before she could scream out in indignation, four more women were pulled in next to her. Now, she was closed off from everyone.
Her heart was now set into overdrive, and she rushed to control her breathing. Surely this was some mistake, wasn’t it? Why only women, and why the sudden age group difference? There was no plot to this, most definitely, she could figure this out–
“Reaping for the 8th Hunger Games shall commence now. That will be all. Give your full respect or face consequences.”
With that, Snoke blinked out of the holo and the citizens of Jakku were left at the mercy of First Order slaves.
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“Alright, citizens.” Ree stepped up closer to the audience from the stage to address everyone who had then been rounded out of their homes to listen by other workers. She began her announcement with a smile on her face. “We now have the annual, mandatory holo you all are required to view before we start the reaping. Please redirect your attention to the holo, as required.”
For the past seven years, Jakku had fallen victim to watching the repetitive propaganda that attempted to justify all the lost battles. Rey sighed in discontempt as she watched the holo, a picture of the legendary Battle of Yavin slowly appearing in front of them.
War. Cold-blooded, dishonorable war. Years, we struggled to watch as rebel planets such as your own attempt to form an uprising against the Galactic Empire, killing billions of innocent people in your fit of bloodlust. And for no cause.
Eventually, you had your way, you brought back the Republic. But your rule was harsh and unjust, unlike the slanderous lies you had brainwashed your soldiers with.
From the ashes of the New Galactic Senate rose the First Order, who finally put a generous end to your madness.
Images flashed between battle scenes and desperate scavengers on planets even as rich as Coruscant. "Rebel" ships ravaged across the skies of imperial sympathizing planets, supposedly bombing the living daylights out of their capital cities. And then they change into shows of peace, tranquility.
To eventually find a compromise, the First Order established a show of their superiority, which thereon and henceforth became known as the Hunger Games.
Every annual Galactic solstice, two tributes from each previously rebelling planet would be chosen to fight to the death in a show of honor and sacrifice. The lone victor would be bathed in riches and triumph as a show of generosity from the First Order.
Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
The hologram blinked out, revealing Ree’s face. Never devoid of expression, she looked around the crowd gathered before her with a grin on her face. “As always, ladies first.” She said, reaching into the bowl next to her. A flash of emotion that could only be described as second thought crossed her delicate features as she realized- ONLY women were being selected. It was too late to come back from that one, though.
Even the population of Jakku was already minuscule, as most species and individuals found its desert conditions almost unlivable, the glass bowl before Ree was practically imperceptible.
In total, there were probably 50 slips of paper in the entire space, a number absolutely microscopic compared to the annual Hunger Games odds; chances of getting picked for those children were approximately 327,986 to 1.
So as Lieutenant Colonel Ree called out Rey’s name, loudly and clearly, she shouldn’t have been surprised. The odds weren’t exactly in her favor. And yet, she still couldn’t process what was happening when two stormtroopers clamped down upon her shoulders, and ushered her up to the stage.
As Ree called three more women up to stage, Rey wallowed in utter disarray. Not only had she just been spotted by the Resistance- which, apparently, were actually stationed on a planet as minuscule as Jakku- but now she had been chosen for the Hunger Games, when she was AGED OUT of the group of candidates.
What could this change POSSIBLY be for? Had they now decided murdering children wasn’t enough, but had moved onto middle-aged females?
“I’m sure you’re all wondering what this could possibly be about,” Ree implored, as if reading Rey's mind; looking to the four women with–was that pity?
“The reason we have decided to carry out this alternate Games,” she continued, turning to face all of the audience, “is because Snoke’s grandson has come of age, and is ready for betrothal.”
Rey gasped quietly to herself, and she suddenly became aware of the small pin in her pocket.
Kylo Ren was marrying someone from an outlying planet- planets that rebels once (and, as Rey now knew, still) populated, and he was having a Hunger Games to determine his wife?
The entire idea was astoundingly odd, and Rey couldn't help but think back to the jewelry incident-
The woman couldn’t possibly be aware that this reaping would happen, could she?
If she was responsible for this- no, she couldn’t have intended for Rey to do such a thing.
For one flicker of a moment, Rey had actually considered the woman had messed with the lottery results.
Rey scolded herself– the woman had no idea who Rey even was. She knew no specifics of Rey herself, much less any details on the new Hunger Games, and the plan of betrothal.
Rey shook the thought from her head, absolutely shocked with how ridiculous she’d been. There would’ve been no way a deranged woman from the Resistance could possibly tamper with First Order business such as this marriage– Rey felt deranged for even thinking so.
She knew she was all alone in the stupid match now.
The only other option was that somehow the woman had rigged the Games lottery for an advantage to the Resistance– a woman Rey had never met, for crying out loud! Whatever was she thinking?
But as Rey was led to a First Order transport ship, all she could think about was the pin that remained in her pocket like a stone tying her to some uncertain destiny.
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“Thane Kyrell.” The tall, fair-skinned man in front of them stated, his face absolutely blank as he addressed Rey and the other three women before him.
The ship had taken off, and the lack of windows allowed Rey no sense of direction as they aimlessly flew through space towards Coruscant. So she observed the man in front of her with curiosity.
He looked to Rey to be a decade and a half older than her, matching Lieutenant Colonel Ree age-wise. She, in fact, was also standing before them, shaking her head in disapproval at the man known as Thane.
“Lieutenant Colonel Kyrell,” Ree corrected, glancing at Thane with a small, reserved smile.
“No.” Thane argued. “Lieutenant Colonel is much harder to announce. My name is Thane Kyrell. You may call me Thane. This is Ciena Ree, and we will be your mentors for this Games.”
Lieutenant Colonel Ree- Ciena- rolled her dark eyes. “Ranks aside, I suppose. But yes, we will be your mentors for these two grueling weeks to come. Both Thane and I are from Jelucan, so we know what it’s like to be from an outlying planet. We will train you to our best ability to fight like warriors that the First Order would be proud of.”
It was Thane’s turn to roll his eyes. “Alright, sure. Blah, blah, blah. State your name and age.” He winked at them and smiled.
Rey held back, and waited as a woman stepped forth from the straight, single-file formation they were aligned in.
“Berisse, 24.” A short brunette answered confidently, her eyes shining as she stepped back into formation with purpose.
“Jude, 21.” It was like the two were the sun and the moon– whereas Berisse was short, brunette, and sure, Jude was tall, blonde and anxious. She stepped forward and backward on legs like a newborn gazelle, coming quite close to tripping on her own feet.
The next girl raised her eyebrows as she came forth. “Kendy. 19.” Her hair loosely flowed down her back in bright green waves, and the riveting blue eyes she was equipped with seemed almost challenging as she looked to both Thane and Ciena.
Rey appeared discontent as it became her turn to introduce herself. “Rey, 19.” She said nonchalantly, and stepped back to await instructions.
“Well, ladies, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Thane smiled at the four of them with bright eyes as he shook each of their hands, and Ciena did the same. “We’ll be arriving shortly, please sit down in those seats over there and brace for impact.”
Rey made her way over to one of the cushioned, luxurious seats. For people awaiting our death, they sure are friendly, she thought to herself, clutching onto the ring in her pocket.
A thought had taken root in her mind, however. She could feel the pin weighing down her pocket. It certainly allowed her mind to wander about the woman, and what the exchange would come to mean.
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