Morning comes as it always does, and they make their way back to the med-center where most of the Resistance has gathered for breakfast. As usual, most of them start to leave as soon as Ben shows up.
"No," Poe says. "We can't keep doing that. I know it's hard to trust him-"
"He's the Supreme Leader!" Brea Darklighter growls. Like Poe, she was a pilot … when she had a ship to fly. She glares at Ben. "Do you ever know how many people you've killed? How many of our friends are dead because of you? How do you expect us to trust him now? Just looking at him makes me want to throw up."
Rey's eyes narrow in anger. "Because we need him. We're out of options. No one is coming to help us. No one is going to come to save us. Without Ben, you'd all be dead right now."
"You would say that," Brea snarls. "Rey the Jedi, the hope of the Resistance … and the only thing she's been doing since we got here is screw the socks off of Kylo Ren!"
Finn glares at her and takes a step towards her, but Rose puts a hand on his arm.
"Shut up, Brea." Rey is trembling now. "Just shut up."
Ben lays a hand on Rey's shoulder. "My name is Ben Solo. Yes. I have killed more people than any of you can possibly imagine. You have two choices though: accept my help and live- or go on your own and die."
"Not in the Falcon," Chewbacca growls.
"That's enough!" Poe slams his hand on the breakfast table. There's gray in his hair now that wasn't there a few days ago. "We don't have the luxury of being picky about our allies, Brea. Solo is with us now. We accept him or we die. Frankly, he's worth more to me than you are. If you can't do anything else, stay quiet."
Brea glares at Poe but then turns her back on them.
"Rey," Poe says gently, trying to break the tension. "Do you have any ideas? Any place where we can go? Did Luke tell you anything that might be useful now? I'm racking my brain for ideas right now."
"I don't know," Rey says softly. "He didn't make any suggestions to me. Chewie? Do you have any ideas?"
"We could go to Tataooine," the Wookie offers. "There's no help there, but no one will turn us in at Mos Eisley."
"If Leia was better I'm sure that she'd have an idea of where we could go," Poe murmurs more to himself than anyone else. "Rose? You and Finn have been doing something with Leia in the med-center. Did she give you any ideas? Should we ask her anything?"
"No, nothing about where we should go next." Rose casts an uneasy glance at Ben as she speaks.
"We're trapped here anyway until Leia can be moved," Poe says with a glance at Ben. "Solo, your ship? How many can it hold?"
"Myself and another," Ben admits.
"So the Jedi and her boyfriend can rocket out of here anytime they want," Brea growls. "Meanwhile the rest of us are trapped unless Chewbacca agrees to take us anywhere."
"I won't leave you!" Rey screams. "I have always chosen the Resistance-" her voice drops to a whisper. "Even when it broke my heart, I chose the Resistance." Her eyes find Ben and are filled with memories. Through the bond he can sense how truly tempted she had been to stay with him that day aboard Snoke's ship …
I'm glad you didn't, he told her through the bond. This is better. Even if we don't make it- even if Hux destroys us- these moments with you make it all worth it. Staying would have destroyed you- and that would have destroyed me.
Black really isn't my color, she says with a mental smile.
But just in case something happens to me- and he sends her the access codes she would need to gain control of his ship.
You know I would never leave without you.
Just in case.
There is no situation where I am leaving you behind again, Ben Solo.
You're a stubborn woman.
That's why you're going to marry me. Ben this did not happen- we did not happen for one of us to die. We're going to make it through this war. We're going to win- and we're going to grow old together. I won't settle for less.
All right. We'll just have to find a way to survive.
Ben clears his throat. "There is one place we might go to." He's reluctant to say anything. He wears Resistance clothing but knows they don't consider him one of them. Not yet. Probably not ever. "One place we might sanctuary- even help. Cloud City."
"Cloud City? On Bespin? It's still around?"
"Yes. The First Order has had no reason to destroy it or take it over. Lando Calrissian won back control of the city in the last days of the New Republic."
"Lando Calrissian? He was a member of the Rebellion! A General! He destroyed the second Death Star!" Rose babbles. "How is he still in charge? I would have thought the First Order would have killed him ..."
She glances at Ben.
"I convinced Supreme Leader Snoke Calrissian's death would cause more harm than good. That a live Calrissian who worked under was better than a dead martyr." He can still remember the look that Lando had given him the last time they had met … a look that had taught Kylo Ren that was still capable of feeling guilt … and shame.
Rey squeezes his hand. "Do you think he'll help us?"
"For me? Not likely. For Mo- General Organa, I'm sure of it. He can probably put you in contact with anyone who's left from the original Rebellion. That gives you a chance to rebuild your Resistance."
"That … could work." Poe begins to smile. "We should talk to Leia about it. Come on, guys."
Rey takes a step forward.
"I meant you too, Solo." Poe smiles at him gently. "It's your idea. You should be the one to explain it to your mother."
"Um... there might be a problem." Rose suddenly finds herself staring at the floor as all eyes come to rest on her.
"What do you mean?" Poe asks.
"General Organa. She said … she said ..." and Rose looks up, her eyes filled with sympathy. "She said that Poe and Rey could visit her anytime at all. But that Ben ..."
"Yes?" Ben prompts gently.
"She said that she will not see you, Ben. Under no circumstances will she see you again."
Author's Note: Leia does have a reason which will become apparent later. In the meantime, I'm still of two minds as to whether or not Rey will see Leia without Ben. Thoughts?