The asteroid was quiet. The great rocky mountains on its surface cast long shadows over high ridges and deep caves. Any sensors would bounce off heavy metal ores that ran all the way through the floating rock. It was the perfect place to hide. Rey nudged her A-wing fighter forward. The ship lurched as the asteroid's gravity pulled it down, but Rey quickly adjusted her course. This wasn't her first time flying through a asteroid field. If she timed it just right, she could disappear into one of the caves below and-
Blaster fire scorched the wing of Rey's ship! It was too late. The Tie fighter had found her. Rey immediately fired her thrusters to their max and dove into the nearest cave. The enemy ship tried to follow, but it couldn't make the turn in time. The Tie zoomed past the cave entrance before whipping back to track her down.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Rey mentally kicked herself for letting the enemy sneak up on her like that. Taking a deep breath, Rey refocused and flew farther into the branching cave. She was certain that one of the tunnels must lead back to the surface. She could hear the screech of the engines as the Tie closed in on her. If she didn't come up with a plan soon, she was going to run out of cave. Her sensors bounced off uselessly off the rocks around her. But even without their guidance, Rey could see the walls were getting closer and closer. The only way out was now behind her. Behind me... Rey smiled. She had a crazy idea. If her sensors were malfunctioning, there was a good chance the Tie fighter's were, too.
Slowly, Rey eased off her thrusters and took her ship as close to the cave floor she could. She almost heard the pebbles vibrating beneath her as she skimmed along. One centimeter too low and her A- wing would be a pile of rubble. Rey heard the Tie's engines grow louder and louder. Not yet. The cave began to rumble as the enemy ship grew closer. Almost there. The second she saw the Tie zoom out behind her, Rey slammed on her reverse thrusters. The Tie fired it's blasters, but it's targeting was completely off. The enemy ship clipped the top of her cockpit and blew past her. There was no way the Tie could slow down now. It sped out of control, deeper into the narrowing cave. A few seconds later, Rey saw the glow of an explosion as the Tie ran into the cave wall.
Yes! Rey whipped off her helmet and punched the air... But her excitement faded as soon as she looked around her. It had just been a flight simulator, after all, but every time she took off her helmet, a part of her hoped she would have miraculously teleported to where she really belonged, back with her family- wherever that may be. She was sitting inside the Imperial walker shell she had called home. The sun still loomed large as it sank beneath the horizon. The blistering desert wind still scratched at her door. It was an evening just like the countless others Rey had spent alone on the sandy planet of Jakku. But Rey wasn't one to wallow. She shook off her disappointment and began preparing her pack for the next morning. There was a crashed Star Destroyer near the center of the starship graveyard she wanted to check out.
Who knew what valuable salvage might be waiting inside? Rey filled one last canteen and stuffed it into her pack, next to her staff. If there was any dangers waiting for her, Rey would be ready. She had survived many battles, not just the simulator. But that was a worry for the next day. The morning would come soon enough.