Ana knows her brother like she knows her own mind. Or at least, she thought she did. She can't remember the last time he's truly smiled, the last time he's laughed. At this point, she doesn't think he ever will again.

The twins are broken, despite having each other to lean on — they are damaged beyond repair. They need someone to guide them, to show them the way, to be there for them no matter what, but that will never happen. They have been abandoned, left beyond, with a growing pain in their chests, they still manage to persevere. But the ache of being left alone has still managed to grow and stay within them, festering in a frenzy.

Right now, Ana stares at her hands, wringing her fingers together. Aero's been gone for too long. Was he hurt? Did someone find them? Did they finally find them?

Life on Jakku is desolate. It's barren and hot, covered in sand that only seems to persist in between one's toes, going on for miles and miles, hiding within the crevices of one's mind, annoying and bleak. It was Aero's decision for them to hide away there. He had been certain that they wouldn't go looking for them, that they wouldn't dream of them hiding away on that sad, little excuse for a planet. He had been certain that they would be safe here.

Had he been wrong?

Ana stands up suddenly, restless and tired of waiting. Although she had promised Aero she wouldn't go out looking for him, no matter what, she can't help but worry. Hands trembling, fearing the worst of what might have happened to him, Ana starts for the makeshift door they had made, covering the entrance of the small hut, only to back away in alarm as someone comes bursting through, gasping for breath.

"Aero?" Ana blinks, seeing her brother in a flurry of clothes and rations. He looks up, meeting her gaze, then realizing where she's standing, frowns.

"Were you going to go out looking for me?" he questions. Ana stays silent, for the answer is obvious. Aero sighs loudly, making his way past her and to their small table, setting the bag of rations down.

"Ana, you know we made a promise."

Ana doesn't reply. They'd promise to never go looking for one another if one of them doesn't return home — if neither sibling returns, it means that they found them.

"Ana —"

"How much did you get?" Ana quickly changes the subject, moving towards the table. She still feels Aero's gaze burning into her, but he doesn't press her for any longer. He reaches for the packages, turning them over.

"Not much," he tells her. "Unkar was in a bad mood. It's only half a portion."

Ana wrinkles her nose. That wouldn't even last both of them one meal for the day. "Only half?"

Aero sighs, sitting down on the stone stool next to the table, leaning back. "I'm not the only one who got half," he says. "There was a girl before me who did, too. She looked pissed. I'm surprised she didn't gut Unkar right then and there."

Ana shoots her brother a distasteful glare at his graphic comment, but he only smiles back at her, blue eyes glimmering.

"She was pretty."

"So?" Ana fumbles with their food, frowning. She should give most of it to Aero, since he's the one to do most of the work searching for spare parts, but she can't deny her own hunger as her stomach growls painfully at the sight of the rations before her.

Aero leans forward, pulling at the portions, forcing Ana to look at him. Her scowl is still prominent as he continues to smile slyly.

"You don't see many pretty girls here." Aero sets the portions down as he adds, "You'd like her."

Ana slams her hand against the table, dragging the bags back over to her. Aero shifts in his seat at the sudden sound, brow furrowed. It's now his turn to scowl.

"I don't see how this is relevant," Ana mutters under her breath as she rips at the plastic packaging. Aero smirks again.

"Well it's not like I was offering her to you," he retorts. "I'm lonely, too. After all, I'm stuck here with my annoying little sister."

Ana shoots him a pointed look, rolling her eyes. "Har har," she mutters under her breath. She bites back a retort, because, in fact, she was the one older than him by six minutes, but moves towards the other side of the hut, reaching for two wooden bowls. She pours the powder into it, and Aero moves to set down a pitcher full of water next to her. Ana takes it, tipping a few drops into both the bowls. Pushing it aside, Ana moves to grab a few makeshift plates, made out of the same ruddy material that their door is, but Aero holds out a hand, stopping her.

"It's only half a portion, Ana," Aero says. "No need for festivities."

Ana sighs, setting one of the plates away. "Fine, you can eat on the dirty table with your hands like the rotten scavenger you are." Aero smiles, blue eyes glimmering, as Ana sits down, pulling over her bowl, which has now filled with a small piece of bread. She reaches for the other package of food, taking out the slab of green meat. She stares at it for a moment, glancing between it and the wok further into the hut, before pushing it towards Aero.

"You have this," she says. "I don't need it."

Aero watches her carefully. "You can't just live off of bread, Ana."

Ana says nothing. She bites into her loaf, a bitter taste filling her mouth at the dryness of the bread. It tastes stale, old. For a moment, she misses home, but pushes the thought aside just as quick as it had come. She doesn't have a home. Not anymore.

"I miss them too," Aero says suddenly. Ana shoots him a pointed glare.

"What did I tell you about reading my mind with your Force powers?"

Aero's jaw sets, his eyes flashing for a moment. "That's not how the Force works, you know." Ana bites into her bread again, this time only a few more crumbs left lingering on her fingers. "And I wasn't 'reading your mind'. You can't do that...I just...felt your emotions."

"I don't miss them," Ana retorts, standing up suddenly, the bitter taste still lingering in her mouth, but she knows it's not just from the staleness of the bread. "I don't miss any of them."

She feels her brother's gaze burning into her. I know you're lying, he seems to say. Ana knows it as well. She does miss them. She misses everyone. She misses the life she used to have, the life Aero and her shared before it all came crashing down into oblivion. Now, they were left with nothing.

"Come on," Aero says suddenly. He holds up his sack, still filled to the brim with spare parts. "Let's try trading these in somewhere else. Maybe we can find better stuff in the marketplace."

"Fine." Ana pushes the bowls aside. She watches as Aero shoves the loaf into his mouth before picking up his sack, leading the way out of their hut. The minute they step outside, Ana regrets it in an instant. The hot sun blaring down on them makes her eyes burn, and a parched feeling creeps up her throat as they trek through the sand. A few ways ahead of them rests the marketplace, only a dark spot in the never ending Jakku desert.

They've barely entered the heart of it all until there's a sudden sound of yelling and scuffling. Instantly, Aero pushes Ana behind him, eyes narrowed as he scans the area. Ana peers over his shoulder, attempting to push against his blocking, only to see up ahead a girl with a staff struggling against two of Unkar's workers. She struggles, but only for a moment, before she kicks, bites, and hits the two workers. She takes her staff, swinging it as it hits one of the thugs in the face. He groans, cursing, falling back into the sand. Her eyes blaze with scrappy, feral energy. She hits the second worker behind her and he grunts, falling as she twirls her staff, allowing it to smack across his face.

Glancing back at Aero, she sees his eyes are glimmering. She assumes this must be the girl he mentioned earlier. The scavenger bends down, pulling a dark sack away to reveal a small astromech unit, orange and white. Ana's eyes widen.

"Is that —?"

"Beebee-ate!" Aero breathes. Ana blinks, looking back at the droid, who rolls happily to the girl, beeping loudly. He twirls his head before letting out a loud string of beeps, frantic. Ana follows his gaze to see a dark-skinned boy standing nearby, mouth agape. The girl also looks towards him, eyes narrowed.

"Who?" she glances back at the droid. "Him?" When BB-8 beeps again, she stands up. Aero backs up, pushing Ana farther back, and in an instant, the girl is racing towards the unknown boy, eyes blazing. Realizing she's charging towards him, the stranger turns, scrambling towards the twins. Aero grabs Ana's hand, and before she knows it, he's dragging her through the marketplace with the man following close behind them.

They only skid to a stop when they hear a loud slam and groan. Looking over her shoulder, Ana sees that the girl has caught up, and managed to bring her staff over, disabling the boy. He lies on his back, breathing heavily, eyes wild. The girl points her staff at him threateningly.

"What's your hurry, thief?" she spits.

"What?" the boy exclaims. "Thief?"

BB-8 rolls up quickly behind the girl, moving towards the man. He beeps loudly, angrily, his small metallic arm extending out from a port in his body before reaching forward, zapping at the stranger.

"Ow!" he yells. "Hey, what the —"

From beside Ana, she hears Aero inhale sharply, eyes trained on the stranger. She glances between him and the boy, frowning.

"Aero —"

"That's Poe's jacket."

Ana blinks. Poe Dameron. She hadn't heard that name for so long, not since they left their old lives behind. Poe Dameron was a pilot, working in the Resistance. He was close with Aero, and ever since the two decided to run away, Aero hasn't spoken about him or anyone else since.

"The jacket!" The girl yells, pulling Ana out of her thoughts. "This droid says you stole it!"

The man glowers, obviously not realizing the position he's in. "I've had a pretty messed up day, alright? So I'd appreciate it if you stopped accusing me of — OW!"

BB-8 whirls violently, red lights blinking as he zaps the stranger again. He shoots the droid an angry glare before his expression falters. He sighs loudly. "It belonged to Poe Dameron. That was his name, right?" He glances over at the droid again. Ana feels Aero tense beside her, his fists clenched tightly, knuckles turning white. "He was captured, by the First Order. I helped him escape but our ship crashed." He hesitates for a moment, his eyes glistening over, sullen before adding softly, "Poe didn't make it."

Ana glances towards her brother, but she's too late. Aero is livid. He starts forward, throwing the sack aside before approaching the two. BB-8 whirls around, beeping loudly, surprised to see him, but Aero doesn't look towards the droid. He grabs the stranger by the jacket, jaw set, vein pulsing in the side of his neck, eyes blazing.

"What the hell did you do?" he exclaims. The stranger blinks, disoriented from his sudden approach, but attempts to struggle against him once he composes himself. Aero doesn't let go. He shakes the man violently, rage festering. "What the hell did you do to Poe?"

"Aero!" Ana races forward, grabbing onto her brother's arm. The scavenger girl's eyes are on her and she steps back, wielding her staff warily. Ana meets her gaze for a moment but tears away instantly as she looks back at her brother, shaking him. "Aero, stop it! Let go!"

"What the hell did you do to Poe?" Aero screams, but loosens his grip, allowing Ana to pull him away. Now on his feet, the stranger stares at the two, frowning.

"Where the hell did you two come from?" he asks. When Ana and Aero don't answer, the boy sighs. "Look, I tried to help him. I'm sorry."

BB-8 lets out a short beep, sad, before wheeling over towards Aero and Ana. He bumps against Aero's leg, and Aero takes this moment to look back at the droid, eyes glistening. He kneels down, rubbing a hand alongside his head.

"Hey, buddy," he whispers. "It's a shame we had to meet again like this."

"You're with the Resistance?" Rey asks suddenly. Ana's ears perk at her words, and she glances back the boy and the girl. The stranger hesitates, taken aback by her question, before nodding.

"Obviously," he says quickly. "Yes I am. I'm with the Resistance. Yeah."

Ana steps back, mind racing. She looks back to Aero, but he's distracted by the astromech droid. His eyes are glassy as he nods to what the droid is saying, smiling sadly.

"I've never met a Resistance fighter before," the girl says, considering the stranger before her.

"Well this is what we look like," the boy says. "Some of us. Others look different."

He's with them. The Resistance. Ana falters. The girl and boy don't seem to notice her as she gestures towards the droid.

"Beebee-ate says he's on a secret mission," the scavenger explains. "He has to get back to your base."

The base. The Resistance. Them. They're looking for you. They're coming for you. They'll find you. And then it all be over. Everything would have been for nothing.

"Apparently he's carrying a map that leads to Luke Skywalker," the Resistance fighter says, and Ana's whole world comes crashing down. At the mention of his name, even Aero stops fussing with the small droid. He rises to his feet, eyes darkening.

"Who?" he demands, voice sharp.

The girl and Resistance boy blink, turning to look at the twins, as if finally noticing they're standing with them.

"Luke Skywalker...?" The boy repeats, this time with a trace of uncertainty. His brow furrows. "I'm sorry, who are you two again?"

"Luke Skywalker doesn't exist," Aero spits, ignoring his question. Ana opens her mouth to say something, but Aero's rage is overpowering as he adds, "He's a myth; nothing more. You're looking for nothing but disappointment."

Ana swallows, a rush of emotions overflowing through her. She remembers kind eyes, laughter, simplicity...her home. And then darkness — flashes of red, screams echoing loudly, insistently, never ending, heartbreak and tear stained cheeks.

BB-8 suddenly lets out a loud beep, interrupting the group. Ana glances towards the droid to see him gesturing wildly towards something in the distance. The scavenger girl frowns, approaching him.

"What is it?"

Glancing in the direction the droid is gesturing, Ana spots two Stormtroopers standing nearby, talking to the two thugs that the scavenger girl had just disarmed moments ago. They point in their direction, and Ana steps back, her heart racing as the troopers glance in their direction, blasters ready.

Instantly, Aero is grabbing on to Ana's arm, pulling her back. They stumble backwards, and the Resistance boy is latching on to Aero and the scavenger, pulling them forward.

"What are you doing?" the girl exclaims.

Before Ana can think, a red blast rips past them, hitting the tent nearby. Aero curses under his breath and BB-8 whirls frantically. The Resistance fighter leads them forward as more blasts hit near their feet, barely missing them. They zigzag through the marketplace, avoiding other customers along the way. The sack of spare parts Aero had collected remains left behind as the group race through the sand, avoiding the troopers' blasts.

"Let go of me!" the scavenger spits, struggling against the Resistance boy's grip.

"No, we gotta move!"

"I know how to run without you holding my hand!" She yanks her hand out of his grasp, glowering dangerously before glancing back towards the droid. "Come on, this way!"

She leads the group further down the marketplace. Ana's head is reeling. They've finally found them. All those months she and Aero spent in secrecy, hiding away on this sorry excuse for a planet, they've all been for nothing.

"Call in the airstrike!" Ana hears the trooper command. The Resistance fighter leads the group into a tent, and they duck for cover. Aero is cursing, glaring violently as he glances around the tent, senses heightened.

"We shouldn't have come," he mutters under his breath. Ana meets his gaze, and they're silent for a moment, before a loud crash sounds, and Ana is whisked away by the Resistance fighter out of the tent. Aero trails after her quickly, BB-8 following closely behind as the scavenger exclaims,

"They're shooting at all of us!"

"Yeah, they saw you all with me!" The Resistance fighter yells back. "You're marked!"

"Well, thanks for that!" spits the scavenger sarcastically. The Resistance boy shoots her a pointed glare.

"Who's the one that chased me down with a stick?"

"Shut up, both of you!" Ana snaps. Aero is beside her once more, gripping onto her wrist tightly. Before anyone can say anything else, a loud scream echoes throughout the sky, and Ana glances up to see two TIE fighters soaring above them. An explosion sounds nearby, and the group are suddenly thrown off balance, forced into the ground. Ana groans, winded. She looks around, spotting Aero lying nearby. He lifts his head, shaken. The scavenger crawls towards them, grabbing Ana's shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asks. Ana nods grimly, glancing towards the Resistance fighter in front of them, who appears to be unconscious. The scavenger makes her way towards him, shaking him hard. "Hey!"

He inhales sharply, sitting up instantly. He sees the girl holding onto him and looks at her. "Are you okay?"

The girl blinks, confused, seeing as how he had been the one unconscious only moments ago, but she doesn't have the chance to say anything as the TIE fighters scream again, threatening. Ana rises to her feet, and Aero is beside her once more. BB-8 lets out a sharp beep of concern. Ana's heart races loudly. The scavenger glances between them before nodding in a different direction.