Chapter 1: Fire Meets Gasoline

Rey Niima rode her '71 Bonneville down a stretch of highway. The vintage motorcycle had seen better days, but it was a classic she had salvaged with her minimal earnings and fixed up herself. A self-taught mechanic, Rey had recently completed her degree at California Polytechnic State University. The university had been one of her few options, offering work study programs and scholarships. Even with the assistance, Rey had had to continue to work for her foster father, Unkar Plutt through graduation in order to pay her tuition bills.

After obtaining her degree, she had left Jakku, the small town she had grown up in. She had moved to Corellia. The larger city was well known for it's manufacturing. Rey was hoping to find a job at one of the numerous repair shops. She had always had a talent for working with machines. Fixing came easily to her, as did learning any new skill. During her courses at university, she rarely had gotten less than perfect scores on any of her exams. The professors were all full of high praise for the little nobody from nowhere. She was their budding star, their diamond in the rough.

Plutt had been less than enthusiastic. He made it his job to ensure she knew where her true place — under his thumb. There had been nights when she came home from classes and a double shift at his junkyard, and he had refused to give her dinner. He'd claim she should have been intelligent enough to eat at school or, if he was feeling especially cruel, told her she needed to lose weight.

She had always been a lean child. Plutt's crude parenting kept her thin and frail. She was less of a threat to him like that, less of a runaway risk. Her clothes were rags compared to those of her peers. She never had the funds or time to go out after class for a burger or a drink. She had never even been on a date. Her guardian had kept her busy, using her love of learning as yet another way to manipulate her into staying with him after she had turned eighteen. She had wanted to attend university, but she had needed money. Unkar Plutt had been the only one in town who would hire her.

But that was all behind her now.

She was finally free.

Corellia was distinctly different than Jakku. For starters, it was vibrantly colorful, not a droning, unchaining tone of tan. The buildings were all gigantic metal structures, soaring high above the pedestrians on the sidewalks. There were hundreds of people out, traversing to work, shopping, to the gym, and to school. Rey allowed her eyes to dance from person to person, briefly imagining a story for each one, their life according to her. It was a game she had played with herself since she was a child.

Having been abandoned at the innocent age of four, she fancied creating happy endings for those she watched. There may have been dramatic twists and pain-points along the way, but each person she crafted a made-up life for, got a love, a soulmate to watch over and protect them. It was how it was meant to be. No one should be alone in life. Everyone deserved someone.

The downtown city district was always busy. It was densely populated and loud. Rey had only been in it for a couple of weeks, but it was enough to convince her she needed to be somewhere a bit quieter, on the outskirts of the main city. She turned her Triumph down 6th street, passing Resistance, the non-profit Senator Leia Organa-Solo had started nearly thirty years earlier.

It was a second chance organization for people from all walks of life looking for a way back to start. Over the years they had managed to help alcoholics, drug addicts, victims of domestic abuse, and even a handful of refugees from other countries. It was truly impressive. Rey had written one of her papers on the Senator's work. It had been for a Humanities credit she needed to complete her degree, but she had found she actually enjoyed conducting the research. She had learned far more about the woman than what the tabloids mentioned.

Despite her vast contributions in both the Resistance and the nation's capital, the Senator's life had been plagued with controversy. Her father had been accused of murdering his wife, her mother, and he had lost custody of the Senator and her twin brother as a result of the investigation. Leia had married a smuggler. Popular with those dealing in Black Market trade, Han Solo had turned over a new leaf when he met her. He started smuggling people out of war zones, provisions into areas devastated by illness, and aiding those whose own government had forgotten about. The last point in the trifecta, that was Leia's news-worthy issues, was her only child, her son, Ben Solo.

He had filed to be emancipated at the age of fifteen, after an altercation with his parents and had fallen off the radar. Every year or so, the tabloids posted pictures of blurred men, baring a slight resemblance to him, stating he was having a fling with a model in Milan, or had an entire family in the Dominican, or (Rey's favorite) had had a sex change and was Lady Gaga. Each year the stories became more and more ridiculous. She hoped the Senator found them amusing, instead of painful.

She had seen the Senator last week for the first time in person. Rey had been working odd jobs at Resistance while she crashed with her college friends. A handyman — or woman, as it were — was always needed. She had been constantly called upon to fix anything and everything from a broken router to a clogged toilet. Though most fixes were common sense rather than mechanical engineering, the paycheck which appeared at the end of each week was more than enough compensation to keep her working the long hours.

It had been on a Thursday morning when she had run into Leia Organa-Solo. The woman, though slightly shorter than Rey, had an absolutely regal presence. She commanded a room with no effort. There was something about her manner and her way of speaking. It struck people, made them want to fight for her, with her. Rey could understand how she had won her elections.

There interaction had been brief. Leia had been making the rounds. She came by every month or so to walk through the building, greeting new recruits, speaking to the leadership, and generally checking up on her foundation. When she had come upon Rey, her face had been warm and understanding. They exchanged a handshake, all the while neither breaking the eye contact they shared. Rey had found herself wishing this woman had been her mother, this stranger who looked at her with more concern than the person who had abandoned her.

Working at the Senator's non-profit was sure to open doors. Or so Rey had thought. She had been scouting jobs in Corellia since graduation, two weeks prior. After several interviews, she still hadn't landed a position. There weren't many openings for a mechanical engineer with no field experience. Firms in the city didn't count her years working for Plutt as reputable work. It was yet another thing he had ruined for her. Still, she continued to search.

When nothing panned out by the end of June, she decided to jump into the job search full-time. It was risky. She didn't have much, but she was determined. Rey had chosen to look outside the city, in the suburbs. Perhaps there were some smaller firms willing to acknowledge her skill and past experience.

Cruising along, she entered Tatooine. The residential area was along the commuter belt. It was lined with developments all sporting cookie-cutter style homes with the same fences and shrubbery decorating the lawns. Rey had never grown up in such a community. It was almost too picture perfect to be believable. As she drove along, she began to sense something in the back of her mind. Though she had never been to Tatooine before, she became aware of a familiar feeling.

At the next stop sign, she turned left, following the side street down until she came across a martial arts studio. Rey slowed her bike, pulling into the empty parking lot. The sign out front looked worn. It was in desperate need of a new coat of pain and some sandblasting, not in that order. It read 'Ahch-To Academy'. There was further lettering beneath, but it had faded to where it was not legible. Rey put her kickstand down and turned the bike off.

Approaching the front door, she peered inside. There was a small waiting room with chairs facing a large studio. There were a handful of standing bags, various weapons, and some targets. The floor was covered in mats and the opposite walls was floor to ceiling mirrors. Like the sign, it was a bit outdated. There was another smaller studio in the back. There was no equipment there, but it did have matted floors and mirrored walls. Closest to her left was a closed door, presumably where the office was located.

Rey scanned around, before her eyes fell onto the hours sign. The majority of classes were at night, with only one or two classes in the early morning. She had missed the early session. The studio wouldn't be opened again until four in the afternoon, if they would open at all. Some businesses were closed for the upcoming July fourth holiday.

Of course, she thought, slightly annoyed. Why hadn't she considered the holiday before leaving the city?

She wasn't sure who she was mad at, herself for stopping or the owner for not being here so she could ask about what kind of training they offered. Her college curriculum had required two physical activity credits. Rey had taken women's self-defense and tae kwon-do. Since it was for her degree, she wanted to make the classes worthwhile. As with her academic courses, she had found she picked up the material quickly. Her instructor had been the same for both courses, pleased to have her continuing her study. Rey was interested in learning more, if she was able to secure a good-paying job and a cheap apartment. She'd have to keep this place in mind.

"Are you looking for Luke?" A voice called.

Rey whipped around to see a petite older woman walking her dog. "Is he the owner?"

"Yes," the woman called back. "He just went on his weekly grocery run, but he should be back in about an hour."

Perfect.

"Thank you," Rey waved.

"I hope you find what you're looking for."

Jumping back on her Triumph, Rey decided to check out the town. With any luck, she could get her name in at a few places over the next hour. She'd check back in with this Luke guy before she ventured to the next suburb.

It only took her a few minutes to get to the town center. There was the typical fair, bookstore, boutiques, and a coffee shop. Most cafes had message boards where help wanted flyers were posted. The one on her campus always had. So Rey decided to try her luck with this one. Also, her roommates preferred coffee to tea, so she was dying for a fix. She parked her bike and headed inside.

The cafe was quaint with brightly colored wooden chairs and the menu done up on large chalkboards. String lights were woven through rod iron bars that criss-crossed about the ceiling, having a low-light affect. It was rather soothing. Rey took her place behind a man in a business suit and a middle-aged woman who was busy typing away on her cell.

As she surveyed the board, a tall, muscular man walked directly in front of her, blocking her view. He was about half a foot taller than her and broad. From the angle, she couldn't make out his facial features, but his ears were poking out of his hair. They looked almost too big for his face.

He was dressed in designer label items from head to toe. Rey had never owned a brandname anything before, but she could recognize most. She even had a few favorites, based purely on the quality. Growing up with very little, she had learned to appreciate when things were made to last. Higher-priced, brand named objects usually did hold up…or at least they should.

She paused for a moment, before clearing her throat. "Excuse me. There is a line."

The man turned and lowered his Ray-Bans with one hand, glaring at her over the top of the black rims. "Pardon me. I didn't realize they served coffee to little girls."

His voice was deep with an edge of arrogance. Rey had no qualms about standing her ground. She had been fighting her entire life in one arena or another. Rich, self-entitled jerks like this man were nothing new. She had come across plenty at the university. Most of them were there to party and nothing more. They were already slotted to join their fathers in the family business and just checking a box when it came to earning their degree. While she found it appalling, she also felt slightly sorry for them. They would never earn the satisfaction she felt when she had crossed that stage on graduation day, knowing she was the sole reason for her success. No one else could take credit for what she had accomplished.

"I'm twenty-two," she stated, evenly, moving past him to secure her spot as the next customer.

"I don't recall asking for your life history."

Wow, this guy is unbelievable!

Briefly, she considered moving aside and letting him order before her. Maybe if he scored his hit of caffeine, he'd act like a decent human being. Taking in his attire, she doubted the coffee would have any lasting affect on his attitude. He was dressed from head to toe in black. His hair fell just above his shoulders, framing his face and accented by facial hair on his upper lip and chin. He could give Satan a run for his money.

Probably his job title too, she thought.

"Good morning," the barista greeted her with a cheery smile.

"Morning," Rey grinned back.

"Oh, I love your accent!" the girl gushed. "Are you from England?"

"Yes, Westminster, actually," Rey replied.

"I've never been, but it's on my list to see before I die."

"I'd like my coffee, before I die," a familiar, rude voice interrupted.

The girl blinked back her alarmed expression at his open hostility, before the smile reappeared on her face. "What can I get for you?"

"Green tea with honey, please."

"Coming right up. That will be $2.59, please." Rey dug into her pocket, pulling out a crumbled five. She handed it over to the girl, telling her to keep the change. She figured the barista was still in school. Tips meant paying rent and tuition on time. "Thank you."

Rey stepped aside to wait for her beverage. The impatient jerk behind her muttered something under his breath that sounded like 'finally' before he barked his order (coffee, black — like his soul, apparently) at the girl. Rey stood near the condiments counter, idly scrolling through her phone.

Another item on today's to-do list was finding a new residence. She didn't have a car, so that wasn't an option and while she was sure she could continued to stay at her friends' place for a few more nights, she didn't want to make a habit of it. She wanted to make it on her own here.

During her freshmen year at the university, she had met Poe Dameron, who was studying electrical engineering for airplanes. He was a year ahead of her, but they had similar coursework. He had his pilot's license already, but wanted to expand his knowledge. He told Rey he wanted to be able to fix any problems he encountered. Rey found it fascinating. He had offered to take her up one weekend, when she was free, but of course Unkar hadn't allowed for that. Still, she managed to spend time with Poe during their shared classes, normally pairing up with him.

Eventually, she had met his boyfriend, Finn. He was her age and was very animated. Rey hit it off with him instantly. He even started to refer to her as "Peanut," a nickname he had dubbed appropriate pointing out how petite she was. Poe had supported the name and their quick friendship. The trio had soon become inseparable. It was their influence that had convinced Rey to finally leave Plutt. She had begun hiding her extra funds at their apartment, so Unkar wouldn't find it. Though she had barely scraped by over the last three years, in the end, it had been worth it when she had finally moved out.

The look on Plutt's face when she had come home from graduation to pack her bag was forever ingrained in her mind. He hadn't been able to speak, only sputtering sounds at her, as he watched. Poe and Finn had come for backup, too concerned with his manipulative history to allow her to go on her own. While she had appreciated them being there, she had no greater satisfaction than the moment she walked past her former guardian with a wave and said "See ya."

She wondered how long he had stood there, unable to fathom how she had done it. Rey giggled to herself at the memory.

"Teenagers." The bitter judgment came from the monotone-clad man to her left. Rey resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead tucking her phone into her pocket and turning her attention to the coffee collars on the table. She knew she'd need one for her tea. As she reached for it, she grabbed a second. Mr. I'll-Take-My-Coffee-Black would no doubt need one as well.

Kill 'em with kindness.

"Green tea with honey for Rey," the barista called out, setting the steaming cup down on the counter.

Rey bounced forward, thanking the girl again, before slipping the cardboard ring around her beverage. As she passed, the devil-man, she held out the second collar. "For you."

His eyes widened behind his sunglasses, as his eyebrows arched impressively high.

Ha!, she cheered, smugly.

"Have a nice day." She gave him the same "See ya" wave she had left Unkar Plutt with.

The baffled expression was still on his face as she strolled out the door.

By the time Rey arrived back at Ahch-To Academy, she was no longer the only vehicle in the parking lot. A beat-up, sand-colored Landspeeder was sitting by the entrance. Rey took it as confirmation Luke had returned. She went to the door and knocked.

"It's unlocked," a gruff voice hollered.

Rey furrowed her brow, unsure his reason for such a rough tone. She walked in, tentatively. "Hello?"

A bearded man stuck his head out of the office door. He gave her a confused look. "Who are you?"

"Rey Niima." She extended her hand for a shake. There was a long pause, as he stared at her before he took it.

"Apologies, Rey Niima," he released her hand. "I was expecting someone else."

For a moment, they stood together in silence, both regarding the other. Rey was wondering why he looked so familiar while he seemed to be sizing her up. He had kind eyes, blueish gray, like the coast after a particularly bad storm. His hair was long for someone his age, adding to his weathered look when combined with his lengthy facial hair. He reminded her of an old cowboy instead of a serene sensei, but she couldn't deny the eerie sense of calm he emitted.

"I saw your sign and was interested in learning more."

"Really?" She wasn't sure if his tone was pleased or amused. He was wearing a strange smirk that lent itself to either option.

"Do you have any experience?"

"Only a little," she admitted. "I completed a couple of courses at University."

"And what degree have you obtained?"

"Bachelors of Science."

His eyes filled with mirth. "I'm not sure what good that will do you here." Her face fell, until he added, "But let's see what you've got."

"What now?"

"No time like the present."

He led her into the larger room. Instructing her to stand in the middle, he retrieved a bow staff from the wall of weapons. "I want you to spar with me," he told her, taking another staff for himself. "Don't overthink anything. Just react."

"Ok."

She wasn't sure what was happening. Did she need to try out in order to attend classes at this place? She had no experience to draw upon, outside of her college classes, so she wasn't sure how students at true martial arts studios did it. She hoped this Luke guy would go easy on her. It had been over a year since she had taken tae kwon-do.

"Ready?"

Rey nodded.

In the next instant, he was advancing on her, striking out with various angles. Rey managed to block each one. She wasn't sure how she knew which block to use or how to counter each line of attack. It wasn't a conscious decision. It felt more akin to breathing, as if she had always done this. During her courses at California Polytechnic State, they hadn't used weapons. It had all been hand to hand combat techniques. Having the staff in her hand made her feel whole, as if it was an extension of herself.

Her surroundings faded. She experienced a type of tunnel vision. All she could see was Luke and his staff. There was a stillness in the air around her. It was as if everything happening was in slow motion. She heard her breath echoing in her eardrums, her heart beat became the constant tempo in the back of her mind. She blinked. And when she opened her eyes again, she spun away, shielding herself from another jab.

A few minutes into parrying with him, she stopped defending herself and began attacking. As with her defense,the moves flowed through her. She barely registered the commands. She simply felt it. She was fluid. She was effortless. She was free. Her motions directed Luke about the room. She moved him into the far corner, until she had him trapped. Then she swung her staff, aiming for his throat. The end of her weapon stopped a mere inch from its target.

"Good."

His praise broke her out of her trance. Rey had to blink a few times before she was able to comprehend what she had just done.

"I'm sorry," she said, quickly. "I shouldn't have done that, sir."

"Don't apologize," he told her, sternly. "You may call me Luke or Master Skywalker. Sir is too formal. Makes me sound old."

She tried to hid her giggle at the last part. He didn't miss it. She bit back her bottom lip, trying to figure out what to do next. Was her stunt in the studio a trial run? Would he allow her to take classes or would he tell her she was too hostile to train with others? Rey swallowed against the lump forming in her throat.

Eyeing her once more, with the same expression as earlier, he asked, "Why are you here, Rey Niima?"

"I wanted to talk to you about taking a few classes."

"But why are you here? There are a number of studios in the city."

Rey wet her lips, trying to decide how to tell him she had been drawn here. There was no easy way to say it. It sounded crazy. In the end, she shrugged. "It's too loud. I can't hear myself think when I'm there." It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the full truth.

Luke seemed tickled by her confession. "Ever considered teaching classes?"

"I don't think I'm qualified. I haven't been trained."

He sighed and gave a small nod before taking the staff from her. He returned both staffs to their rightful place on the wall. "You have raw, natural talent. If I was still in my prime, I would jump at the chance to train you, however, I'm no longer that person."

"Excuse me?"

"Do you know anything about MMA, Rey?"

She shrugged. "I never watched a lot of TV, but I've heard talk. It's fighting, like the NFL of fighting or something, right?"

"Close," he chuckled. "Follow me."

He led her back to his office, where he took a seat behind his desk. When the door swung open, Rey gasped. There were pictures all over the walls, trophies, medals, and banners. She recognized a younger version of him in all of the photos. He had the same kind eyes, but his face was lighter, full of more hope. He was surrounded by other celebrities, fighters, and even some kids from his time doing charity work. But there were no photos of his family. And then she made the connection.

"You're the Luke Skywalker? As in the son of Anakin Skywalker, the former champion? And the undefeated rival of 1983?"

"Was."

"I had no idea." Rey felt embarrassed. Even living under a rock like Jakku, she had heard tales of Luke Skywalker, the underdog fighter turned pro and then champion. Only after he had won his first title in 1977 did the press discover his heritage. He was fighting royalty, the only son of the six time champion, Anakin Skywalker. Which also made him…

"You're the Senator's brother?"

"Yes."

"I used to work for her," Rey admitted, still admiring all of his awards. At least now she understood why he looked so familiar. He and his sister looked alike. "Well, part-time anyway. Being a handyman wasn't exactly my dream job."
"Ahch-To is my dream job. It's my life's work," he informed her, gesturing for her to take a seat across from him. "Passing on what I have learned to the next generation, that is my goal." He explained, pulling out a class schedule and sliding it across the table to her. She noticed several of the classes had 'TBD' listed under the instructor portion. "I'd like you to be a part of it."

"You're offering me a job?"

"It doesn't pay much," he replied quickly, but honestly. "As a consolation prize, I do have a vacant apartment upstairs. You'd be welcome to take residence there, if you'd like. Makes the commute easier."

Rey pinched herself, much to his amusement. She had to be dreaming. First she had an out of body experience as some kind of martial arts prodigy, then she met the legendary Luke Skywalker, and (as if that wasn't enough for one day) he had offered her a job AND a place to live. Rey pinched herself again.

"It's not a dream," Luke reassured her. "I've been looking for someone to help me out around here for months. Not one person has come in here with the ability to do what you just did."

"But I don't even know what I just did."

"You will," he grinned. "I can guide you."

She was barely able to process what was happening. This morning she had decided to venture out on the chance she'd find a few leads, possibly get an interview. She had never expected to score a job so soon. It seemed surreal. She recalled the feeling she had when she entered Tatooine. This place had called to her. Perhaps this was where she was meant to be. It had to be destiny.

"Thank you."

Those two words felt pathetic in comparison to how grateful she truly felt. She didn't know how to convey what she was feeling. Those words would have to do for now. She vowed to work hard and learn as much as she possibly could. The best way to demonstrate how appreciative she was to Luke was to be the best employee and student he had ever had.

"So, when can you start?"

"Is now too soon?"

Luke laughed. She realized she liked his laugh.

"Here are your keys. This one is the master for the studio, and these two are for the apartment. This one is for the main doorknob, and this is for the deadbolt. You can run upstairs to check it out, if you'd like." He dropped the keys into her hand, gesturing to the staircase behind him.

"Seriously? Just like that?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Can I call my friends?" she asked, getting up from her seat. She wasn't going to ask him twice, lest he reconsider hiring her right off the street. "I've been crashing at their place while job-hunting."

"Whatever you want, but before that, I do need to make you aware of one last thing."

Rey sunk back down into her chair. There was a strain in Luke's voice. She could tell there was a heaviness for what he needed to say next. "My nephew will be joining the teaching staff this week." Rey wanted to ask why that was an issue, but kept her mouth shut, when she saw the conflict look in Master Skywalker's eyes. "He's gotten into some trouble recently, courts were involved, and I offered him a place here while he-." There was a pause, as he hesitated how to phrase the next part. "While he reassess certain choices he's made."

"Are you concerned I'm taking his job?" Rey asked, unclear why Luke was telling her this.

"No, no, of course not. He will only be here for six months." Master Skywalker focused not on her, but somewhere off to the side, thinking. "He's not the easiest to get along with. He has a temper and most people find him….intimidating."

"I'm sure he's a good person."

Luke cast her a disbelieving look. "He was…once. Hopefully, he can be again." He held her gaze a moment longer, before his grave manner yielded to his normal calm face. "Call your friends. We can begin going over some basics once you've shared the news with them."

"Thank you."

Rey followed the stairs up to the apartment, shooting a quick text to Finn. The apartment had a small, loft design. Though modest, it was surprisingly modern. The floors were hardwood and had been well maintained. There was a small kitchen coming off from the main living area, hidden behind a staircase, leading up to the bedroom area. On the other side was the door to the bathroom. Rey's favorite part of the entire place was all the windows. Even in the bedroom section, there were a few skylight windows allowing sun beams through. As an added bonus, there was a tiny balcony coming off the main living area, overlooking the back of the studio grounds.

Excitedly, Rey ran out the sliding glass door. Peering over the railing, she saw Luke had created a rock garden out back. It was very zen of him. There was a small pound, surrounded by various shrubs and a few solar lamps, but the primary construction was rocks of varying shapes and sizes. There was one particularly large one over looking the pond. It was large enough for a person to sit on. She wondered if Master Skywalker often sat out there. He had seemed so peaceful, so content until he had spoken about his nephew.

She cast the thought away, not wanting to dwell on the uncomfortable feeling that had sprung up in her at the mention of the troubled individual. Instead, she chose to go back inside to continue scanning her new place. The bathroom was stark white with a few gray accents. She would need to get some colorful towels and accessories to spruce it up, otherwise she'd feel as if she was in a medical wing.

The bedroom area didn't leave much space for a bed and there wasn't a closet, but there was a large wall of shelves. She was confident she could use the boxed out areas to her advantage. After all, she had very few personal belongings. Once she had started to get regular pay checks, she'd start scavenging at the local thrift shops for decor to make this place more her own. She was nothing, if not resourceful, and she was confident she could bring this little nest to life. In fact, she was looking forward to it.

Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket, still on vibrate from when she had been on her motorcycle.

"Finn?"

"Hey Peanut, what's up?"

"I got a job!"

"Really?" She could hear the excitement in his voice, laced with a bit of surprise. "That's great. I'm so proud of you. Where at?"

"Ahch-To Academy in Tattooine."

Finn paused. "Academy? Is it like a teaching facility for engineers?"

"No, for martial arts."

"Martial arts? I thought you were looking for engineering work?"

Rey went on to fill him in on how she had met the famed Luke Skywalker and how she had impressed him enough for him to give her a job, as well as a home. Finn listened attentively to her tale, not stopping her once. She did hear him switch the phone to speaker, so Poe could listen in as well. As she filled her roommates in, she walked out of the apartment. Master Skywalker was no longer in his office. Scrunching up her face in confusion, she checked the studio, only to come up empty.

"So when are you moving in?" Poe asked.

"Whenever you guys can help me move my stuff," she laughed.

"Move in party!" Finn cheered. "We'll bring the wine."

"And the food," Poe added.

"You guys are the best," Rey told them, practically beaming at their support, as she stepped out into the parking lot.

"Well, we have to get back. We were on break for lunch, but text me the address. Ok, Peanut?"

"Ok."

"See you tonight!" Poe yelled in the background before the call disconnected.

Rey was still riding her excitement when a matte black Aston Martin pulled into the parking lot. Working at Jakku Parts & Repairs had taught her to recognize all brands of cars and motorcycles. This wasn't just an Aston Martin. It was the new Vanquish S. She didn't pay attention to the car, assuming it had only pulled into the gravel parking lot to turn around. It was an impossibly expensive vehicle to be in this area.

She returned her attention to her phone, quickly typing her new address into her group text with Finn and Poe. With their help, she could transport her remaining belongings from their apartment in Corellia to the academy. If they came straight from work, she could probably move everything she owned in tonight and then the three of them could focus on celebrating over dinner. There wasn't much to move, so it was doable.

"Ah, you're finally here," Luke greeted someone over her shoulder.

Rey turned slightly, as she put her phone away and met a penetrating glare. She should have known. This had been too perfect, too simple. The universe never gave so effortlessly. Black hair, black clothes, black coffee, black car… Only one pretentious asshole would be strutting around in such a vehicle.

Fuck.

"Rey," Luke continued, unaware of the tension rising between his two new instructors. "I'd like you to meet Ben Solo, my nephew." The owner of Ahch-To, patted his impossibly tall nephew on the back. The younger man barely registered the touch. He was staring daggers at her. "Ben, this is Rey Niima, my newest instructor. You'll be working with her while you are here."

His eyes widened slightly, the first indication he had heard a word of what his uncle was saying. He echoed Rey's earlier thought.

"Fuck."

A/N: I created a mood board for this chapter. It's posted on my tumblr wewantreylo. Check it out and feel free to message me! Also, I don't have a beta, so if anyone is interested in getting first pass at the chapters, I'd be eternally grateful. It would be a huge help and keep me on track for regular updates. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter.

Soundtrack for the chapter:
In the Night - Aaron Richards
Ashes - Madi Diaz
Fire Meets Gasoline - Sia
Set Sail - Frances
In the Beginning - Fahrenhaidt