Once again, you were travelling across the hot desert. C-3PO had become increasingly more difficult to deal with as you grew hotter and more exhausted in the search for Ochi's ship. 

"We cannot possibly fly in that old wreck," C-3PO said.

"We gotta keep moving," he said, beginning the difficult climb on top of the rock foundation that the ship was on. "Find someone who can translate that dagger. Like a helpful droid."

"I suggest we return to the Millenium Falcon at once!" he cried. 

"They'll be waiting for us at the Falcon," Poe said.

"Yeah," Finn said. "They'll throw us in the Pits of Griq."

"Yeah," Poe laughed, "and use you as a practice droid."

"You both make excellent points, at times," C-3PO replied, uneasy. 

"They're just messing with you," you told him with a smile. "Don't take it too personally."

"Up you go, sweetheart." Poe stood in front of a part of the rock and cupped his hands. You braced yourself up on his shoulder to give yourself a boost to where you could climb over the rock. "You good?"

"I'm good," you said, lifting yourself up with a grunt. You turned and reached down for Poe's hand. As you took it, you noticed Rey looking out at the horizon. "Rey?"

"What is it?" Finn asked her. 

"I'll be right behind you," she whispered to him. She handed over her bag and staff. Her eyes met yours and she gave you a brisk nod. "It's okay."

You didn't know what else to do. You pulled Poe up as Rey left. 

Ochi's ship opened surprisingly easily. Rushing in, weapons ready, Poe was already running to see what the ship had to offer; what needed fixed, whether or not it was able to fly at all. "Let's see what we got." He flicked something and lights buzzed loudly, sputters of blue emitting from them. They flickered, but they stayed on. "Let's get those converters fired up."

As you powered on the ship, remembering everything Poe taught you with ease, you smiled. He caught your eye and nodded encouragingly. "Look at that," he praised. The ship was buzzing with life. 

Finn, on the other hand, was more than distracted. You recognized the pain in his eyes. He didn't even need to speak for you to know what was wrong, but he said it anyway. "Where is she?"

Rey was standing in the middle of the vastness of sand. She was still just staring. You didn't understand what she was doing and you couldn't pretend to know. Rey was strange. You loved her and thought of her as one of your best friends, but she was strange. 

"She told you that it was okay, and we need to trust her," you said, nodding. "She'll be back." You turned your attention to checking over the ship, wanting to see what it was you would be working with in here.

"Finn, help me out over here."

Finn sighed. "Chewie, go tell Rey we gotta go."

You dropped down in the co-pilot's chair as Poe sat down in the pilot's seat. Finn stood over you, staring out the viewport. Waiting. 

Minutes passed, and Chewie and Rey still hadn't returned. Finally, you were growing anxious at their absence as well. 

"What's she doing?" Poe asked, still putting things together. "Where's Chewie?"

All of a sudden, Finn simply said, "It's Ren."

Your blood went cold. Poe looked up from his hands. Finn was up and running out of the ship, and as you looked out the dusty glass, a gasp of pain left you. Chewie was being pushed inside of the ship by two First Order stormtroopers, who poked him with their weapons. He had restraints on his wrists and around his neck, like he was an animal. 

"Chewie!" you cried out, and Poe grabbed you and dragged you back down to your seat. 

"Shhh! It's okay," he whispered. "C'mon, we have to get the ship started up! The only way we can save him now is if we have a way to get to him."

You turned in your seat and grabbed his shoulder. "What about Rey---"

"Finn will tell Rey!" he yelled, but at the same moment you heard an explosion. You were up and running outside and right back into the heat and the sun. You saw Finn slide down the rest of the sandy hill. 

"Rey! Rey, they got Chewie!" he was yelling, pointing to where the First Order transport was raising off of the ground.

She raised her hand and you saw the ship pulling back towards her. Her face tightened in concentration, but it was quickly broken by the presence of another. From the fiery remains of his ship, you saw Kylo Ren walk out unharmed. He very calmly approached Rey without a hint of emotion in his face. His hand raised too, and the two began to fight for the ship.

Rey strained, her teeth grinding against one another as she used all of her energy to grab the ship and keep it in her control. You were frozen where you stood, unable to tear your eyes off of the two. Your hand slowly reached for the blaster on your belt, but before you could unclip it and pull the trigger on Kylo, lightning sparked from Rey's hand. 

And as the lightning hit the ship, it bent in half. Flames consumed it from the inside out, and your jaw dropped. You covered your face as you heard Rey's blood curdling scream, "Chewie!" 

"No!" Finn cried. Pieces of charred, flaming remains fell to the sand. And your friend was gone.

Poe was behind you now, grabbing you by the shoulders and pushing you towards the ship. You shook your head. You were dazed now, horrified by the thought of Chewie dying. You thought of him, of how he had helped you after Ren had killed Han Solo. Now he was gone too.

"Chewie," you mumbled.

"I know," Poe breathed, voice shaking. "I know. Rey! We gotta go, they're coming!" 

"Rey, come on!" 

As you stumbled into Ochi's ship, you forced the grief far, far down. You couldn't focus on it now. You had to escape. You returned to the co-pilot's chair, refusing to think of Chewie, and how he would be in this chair normally. You waited until Poe returned to give you further instructions, not thinking of how Chewie would be putting his own orders and suggestions over Poe's just to try to lead you through it. You pushed it all down. 

And you lead your friends off of Pasaana, without Chewie.

* * *

"I lost control." 

"It wasn't your fault," Finn said. 

"It was," she whispered. 

"No. It was Ren. He made you do it." 

She turned around with tears in her eyes. "Chewie's gone. That power came from me. Finn, there are things you don't know."

"Then tell me," he said. 

You closed your teary eyes and turned away. Surely they had forgotten that you were there. This moment was too intimate, too personal, just like the moment they reunited on Starkiller Base. You didn't belong in it. So you hid your grief, again, and you turned away.

* * *

"We recovered the scavenger's ship," Hux said. "But she got away. Under the command of the Knights of Ren, we suffered losses. A transport was destroyed."

Pryde replied, "I've seen the report."

"No, Allegiant General. There was another transport in the desert. It brought back a valuable prisoner."

Pryde gave an impressed glare. "Prisoner?"

Hux brought the general to where the Wookie was being held. Two stormtroopers guarded it and restrained it. "The beast used to fly with Han Solo," he said, smirking. 

The thing roared behind him, washing hot breath all over the top of his head. He winced and swallowed hard. The Wookie growled and grunted, as if to say "I know who you are!". 

"Take it to Interrogation Six," Pryde ordered, clearly pleased by this prisoner. 

"Move it!" the stormtrooper snapped, poking at the Wookie with a sharp weapon. Pryde walked back the way they had come, and Hux took the opportunity that he was given. 

"Wait just a moment," he said, and he walked in front of the Wookie. He gazed up at it and squinted his eyes. "I believe it would do you well, beast, to tell me the whereabouts of ___ ___. I know you know that name. I believe you know her as well."

A gleam of acknowledgement crossed his eyes, but he didn't reply. He simply growled lowly under his breath. 

"If you do not tell me, I can assure you that your friends will only be punished more harshly," he threatened. 

"She was with them, sir," one of the stormtroopers said. 

Hux looked at the soldier. "I beg your pardon?" 

"___ was with this creature's friends," she repeated. "She was spotted alongside them as well."

Hux couldn't believe what he was hearing. While the capture of Chewbacca appeared to be the perfect opportunity to get the scavenger girl in the clutches of the First Order, the true prize for him was the chance to have you back in his grip. Right where he wanted you, with his hands wrapped around your throat. He couldn't help but smile, feeling more hopeful now than he had in weeks. 

"Excellent," he said simply. He gave the Wookie one more look, a look that told Chewbacca everything that he needed to know about what was going to happen to you. And as he spun around on his heels and marched off, Chewbacca let out a cry that was a mix of anger and a mix of pain.