AN: Thank you so much for the reviews, follows and favorites! You guys rock!
I decided to divide the chapter again...which means that the next chapter should not be too far behind...
Another silly chapter...but with some plot...hidden there...mostly "filler" though...melodramatic Ben and frustrated Kylo...
Chapter fourteen - An awkward family dinner
Ben has his feet firmly planted on the floor. He has long since given up on taking a nap under the comfortable duvet, which lies instead disregarded in the corner of the sofa, despite the fact that he is beyond exhausted. He can't sleep, not when there is an unknown danger coming...very slowly their way or because of the danger of the unknown monsters getting loose, not to mention his constant arguing with Kylo, all of which is hanging over his head and giving him a tremendous headache. On top of it all, he is still feeling the effects of the head injury Rey inflicted on him awhile ago, but the only bright side is she looks so worried about him, where she stands behind the pilot seat, which Poe occupies since he got to fly the freighter along with Chewie, while his father searches for some painkillers for him in the nearby containers.
Too bad, Rey's worry also stems from a great guilt, as she is one of the reasons he is such a bad shape in the first place, though Ben don't blame her at all for lashing out at him. But, she has to be careful of her emotions, if she isn't going to turn to the darkside as he did.
I haven't taught her anything yet...but am I really the best one to teach her?
KR: Don't tell me you plan on leaving her training to Luke?
No, of course not! I turned because of him...and well mom's apology letter, no, I am her only hope...but, maybe it's for the best to wait with her training until after we have delivered the map to the resistance base. So much to do...
KR: I can take care of her training...then you wouldn't have to worry about that...
Nice try...leave her alone...
Ben looks envious at where Finn can sleep so peacefully in the other sofa...with not a care in the world. Which a bit surprising, since Finn always seems to be on edge when he is awake. Maybe his only escape from his worries is to sleep them away...?
KR: The former soldier is turning into a sloth...no discipline anymore...
It's just his way to enjoy his freedom...I wish I could enjoy it too...
"Is your head really okay?" asks his father suddenly and Ben just nods to his father's question, even though his head is never okay with his constant bickering with Kylo.
"At least try to eat something, " says his father and indicates the blue food bar, Ben is still holding and hasn't dared to touch yet.
As Ben can't really choose anything else, he takes the leap and bites into the unappetizing bar and become wildly surprised by its good taste.
"Good?" asks his father and grins when he sees how Ben's face lightens up.
Ben nods and takes a another bite and can feel some of his energy come back.
What is this thing...?
KR: If I had to guess..blue milk?
Well, it's kriffing delicious...who would have guessed?!
KR: Never judge a book by its cover...
"I'm glad to hear that...you are all welcome to have some. You must be starving." His father, who noticed the hungry look of his gang, especially Rey, when Ben bit into the bar and moves the crate over the floor, closer to them all.
Rey takes the lead in making sure everyone is well-fed, as she dives into the container and emerges with her arms full.
She nods her thanks to his father. "Thank you sir." Before she heads off to delivering food to everyone. She delivers one bar to Poe in the pilot seat, one to Chewie, even one to his father, though he can easily get one himself, wakes Finn up gently and gives him one, before picking out one for herself, though she must be starving.
"Have another one, kid." His father suddenly sits beside him and replaces the old bar with a new one in his hand. "You can all have as many as you like." He takes the comforter from the corner of the sofa and wraps it around his shoulders, reminding him more and more of a fussing granny then his old grumpy dad. "Make sure, you don't get cold."
His gang nods their thanks for the food.
Really, where would we be if my dad hadn't showed up?
KR: You might have crashed in the desert...and resorted to cannibalism...after weeks of starvation...
I doubt that...it was just a figure of speech...
KR: I don't think so, you really are helpless...without him or more importantly me!
At least I'm not stuck as some stupid voice in someone's head...
KR: Hey! That was a low blow! That was really, really mean!
I learned from the master...
KR: Wait, are you talking about me...? You are calling me a master...? I'm finally a master!
So easy to please...
Rey even makes sure BB-8 isn't left out of the mealtime, by pointing out to him an unused electric socket in one of the walls of the cockpit, which he plugs in and chirp-moans happily when he begins to charge himself, before she gets her own meal at last.
KR: She is too nice...not good for the darkside!
Good, I don't want her to go there!
Rey takes a seat next to groggy Finn who sits up and looks sleepily at the food in his hand. Though he wakes up with a jolt when he sees that Rey is suddenly sitting next to him.
No, don't go over to him!
KR: Bet you want her to go to the darkside instead!
No, I just want her to be with me!
Rey devours her bar in one bite and burps loudly, startling everyone, even BB-8 with her table manners.
"Sorry...hungry..." She covers her mouth and smiles coyly when she sees the stare of everyone. Poe just laughs, Finn regards her like he is seeing her in new light, BB-8 chirps worried while Chewie goes back to co-piloting.
"If you are hungry, you can have some more," says his father and Rey nods her thanks and gets and devours another bar and another.
KR: Not very feminine...
Hey! I don't care about that and...she is used to starving! I have to buy her some fancy dinner sometime...
KR: And teach her how to eat it...
No, she can eat it however she likes...as long as she eats...that's the only thing that matters...
KR: I thought you were part royalty...
Mom was always trying to teach me those stuffy and boring table manners...and how to act in gatherings as such. Especially in the senate...though she gave up on bringing me there, after I blew up a homemade detonator...
KR: Woah...wait...you were a terrorist...as a child?!
Of course not, it was just an innocent prank...the "bomb" just shot all over the senate, paper that was covered in slime and said the senate kriffing sucks and the empire rules...!
KR: The Empire? Did you know about the First Order at that time?
No...I was just trying to send a message I didn't want to be there...
KR: I get your mom wasn't too happy...
I can still hear her yelling at me...and dad wasn't too impressed either when he heard what I had done...though he thought it was very funny...deep down...and way out of mom's earshot...but he didn't like the Empire part...that one got me into a lot of trouble!
KR: And now you have done something far worse...
You have...I didn't do anything...darkside...or First Order stuff...
KR: I doubt your mom...or dad sees it that way...
True...I'm still waiting for the real lecture to start...this can't be it...maybe he is waiting for a chance to lecture me in private!
KR: I wouldn't say that he is too "shy" to yell at you in public...as he has already done that...repeatedly...
Then why is he...also so kriffing nice...to me...in between?
Ben takes a look at his father, who to his surprise still hadn't gone back to piloting the ship, but instead stays by his side and makes sure he eats every bite.
KR: He must be feeling guilty...for abandon you all these years...
Well, he should feel guilty...he still hasn't explained anything...not that any explanation will be good enough...for what he did...
Ben glanches at his father at his side, who watches Poe's every move with a critical eye, as if he was a flying instructor. But, as his father can't see any fault in what he is doing, Han nods and smiles content, which sparks jealousy in Ben, as he is certain that his father would be constantly criticizing his flying, if he were the pilot.
Nothing I did was ever good enough...
KR: And still isn't...and never will be!
Ben can feel a pain in his chest and grabs it dramatically.
"What's wrong?" asks his father and turns to him.
"Nothing..." lies Ben. "Just tired."
"You should lie down after dinner," says his father with no room for argument.
Ben just nods.
But I can't ask him any of these painful questions now... we better just try to survive this meal... and trip...
They all eat in silence and most of them happily. But, despite the quiet inside the cockpit, there is never truly a silence in Ben's head, as if Kylo isn't speaking to him, the force is warning him about something or he has a bad headache or everything at once, as is often the case.
Something is coming, I can feel it...but I can't figure out what it is...the monsters aura is in the way, but since they are deemed way, way more dangerous than whatever is coming, I should be able to relax..as long as the monsters don't get loose...
KR: Don't you go open for them...just to speed things up!
I won't! Honestly, I don't mind some peace and quiet... sometimes... and the ship that was on its way must have broken down or something...though I can still feel it getting closer. Is it trying to sneak up on us? So we don't pick it up on our scanners? Well, they didn't expect a force user to be on a board! We should be able to surprise them. Maybe we should turn the ship around and sneak up on them!
KR: I doubt you father wants to take that kind of a risk. It could be the First Order and we could be going straight into a trap! Your force sensitivity could be broken for all we know...or messed up because of the monsters aura overtaking it. Not that I would mind the First Order coming and ending this once and for all!
We won't know unless we take a risk. My father was always a risk taker...especially if there was credits involved...it wouldn't hurt to tell him of my plan, would it? Without of course mentioning that this might be First Order trap...
"We are not turning around the ship," says his father sternly, as if he had seen right into Ben's mind who jolts up and stares flummoxed at his father, who continues: "It could be a trap for all we know. No, we will wait for them to come to us. Understood?" He frowns at him, as if Ben had planned on turning the ship himself.
"I was not going to ask that..." mutters Ben defeated, even though he has guilt written all over his face.
"You are always plotting something, when you are quiet," says his father matter of factly. "Make sure you eat enough." He puts another food bar in his hand and Ben takes a bite, but very politely or his father might scold him for it, though he wants to devour it like Rey did as he is so hungry.
"What is coming?" asks Poe and Finn, BB-8 and Chewie look alarmed.
"We don't know...but, Ben felt something," replies Rey.
Poe scoffs. "Very Helpful. Mister Solo..?" He turns to his father.
Shut up, "perfect" stupid Poe...let me eat and think in peace..!
KR: I bet if Poe had told him your plan, your dad would've accepted it. He values him more...he probably wants him to be his son instead...
That's not true!
KR: Then why is he allowing him to fly HIS SHIP instead of you? HIS SON?
I...don't know...
"Call me, Han," replies his father and Ben stares betrayed at his father that stupid Poe gets to be on first name basis with him, but his father doesn't notice his look as he's too busy eating.
"Okay, Han...I curious to know how you lost the Falcon?" asks Poe and gets himself ready for a long interesting story, while Ben wants to chop him down with his lightsaber for being so chummy with his father.
"It got stolen," replies his father in his no nonsense voice and continues eating.
He shot him down... Ben heart soars. Hehe, my dad never wants to talk much...to strangers! Take that stupid Poe!
KR: Take that stupid Poe!
"I know that...I mean..." says Poe and looks hurt over having been shot down like that by his hero and looks to help to Chewie, who has no interest either in retelling that story.
His father gives Ben a sidelong accusatory glance who stiffens in fright. "Did you steal it?"
His gang and Chewie stare at him, as if he did indeed do that horrible deed.
Me...? Did I...? NO!
"I didn't steal it!" yells Ben as if he had been dragged unwillingly and innocent in front of a court.
His father burst out laughing, hugs him and ruffles his hair. "I'm just messing with you. I know, you would never do that again." He lets go of him and pushes him playfully around.
"Well, don't startle me like that!" shouts Ben at him and it takes a while for his heartbeat to go back to normal.
KR: You don't really need much...
"Again?" asks Poe in disbelief and the rest of his gang share the same look.
Chewie shakes his head sternly to confirm that story and Ben gulps, when he remembers how angry Chewie was when they caught him.
"Or well tried to, when he was a child...ten I think. Not that you could even get the ship to lift from the ground...clearly not a natural flyer like me or your grandfather..." His father elbows him teasingly as that past "crime" didn't bring down his humor, unlike Ben as that memory, but especially those words stung him deeply.
That was more disappointing than the fact that I tried to take off with his ship. I always disappoint him, no matter what...
KR: I told you that Poe was a better son for him...
His father clears his throat awkwardly, when he sees the bad mood, Ben is getting in, which is a clear as day to everyone, judging from his crossed arms, pouty lips and angry frown. "Not, that you don't have many other talents...especially to get yourself into trouble...and you most likely know how to fly now...but, I'm glad you didn't manage to fly at that time...I might have lost you back then...and the Falcon..forever. But more importantly, you." He strokes his hair softly.
"If I am so important then why didn't you bring me home ages ago?!" snaps Ben at him and bats his hand away, still angry that he was making fun of him, but even angrier over the fact that he abandoned him.
KR: I thought you weren't going to ask him now...
He started it!
"From the First Order? You meant what you said as Ken Rolo? You were just waiting for me to rescue you...?" asks his father, baffled and everyone of his gang and Chewie looks as stunned as him.
Yes...
KR: No, I didn't want any rescue...
"No...to pick me up from uncle Luke, you promised me..." Ben pouts and score some sympathy-abandoned points at last from Rey and even some from his gang and Chewie.
"I'm sorry I broke that promise...it wasn't my fault..." His father hangs his head.
"That's not what you said earlier!" barks Ben at him.
Give me the whole story now! What happened?!
"It's complicated...did you pilot the Falcon?" asks his father and dodges the question by asking another.
"No...I was a co-pilot," replies Ben, though he is far from happy with the changing of the topic.
Not his fault? Whose then...mom's? That's can't be...Luke's...?
"Co-pilot...?" asks his father and exchanges a surprised look with Chewie in the co-pilot seat, before looking over at his gang. "Then who was...?"
"I was the pilot," replies Rey.
"You?" asks his father in disbelief and looks between Poe, who is still in the pilot seat and her.
Hey, why is that such a surprise? Women can pilot too...
"I was...also the pilot...for some time," adds Poe, as if Rey wouldn't have been perfectly able to handle it herself.
"We were both the pilots," says Rey firmly. "But, I was the main pilot."
"Two pilots," says his father and shakes his head as if it's the most ridicules thing he had ever heard. "For such a small ship..."
Chewie growls in agreement.
"And two co-pilots," adds Rey, as if that would make it better and points at Finn beside her, who jumps up as if she had just asked him to co-pilot again.
His father shakes his head. "What an odd crew. Ben, why weren't you the pilot?" He looks at him sternly as if he didn't do his homework and had instead copied it from a friend.
"We asked him..." begins Rey and Poe, Finn and BB-8 nod in agreement.
"I didn't want to..." mutters Ben and hopes that will be enough, but his father presses on:"Why?"
Ben shrugs. "Memories...did you want me to pilot it?"
His father nods. "Of course."
I thought he didn't trust me for it.
"You can fly now right?" asks his father and Ben shrugs as if it is no big deal: "Yeah, had my own ship..."
KR: NO, it was I who had a ship...no two ships! Command ship and a shuttle!
You didn't own them, the First Order did...and it owned you...us...like you said, you were Snoke's property...
KR: Is his property...I was just temporarily stolen away by you...
Sounds like a slave...
KR: Well gramps was a slave as well! At first...but, also kind of the Emperor's slave...
And he was and you are slave of the darkside...
KR: I can't deny that...
"What happened to your ship?" asks his father sternly, as if he's about to lecture him about how to take proper care his ship and Chewie, Rey and BB-8 gives him the same look.
"It erm...broke down..." Ben avoids his father's stern gaze, as he would never in million light years admit that he broke it himself...or well Kylo with his temper tantrum.
Please stop interrogating me!
KR: It was not a tantrum!
Poe and Finn, who are the only ones who knows the truth shake their heads over his vague story.
"I will give you, your own ship...for your birthday," says his father and Ben stares speechless at him, since he was expecting a lecture not a gift.
KR: A bribe to keep you from the darkside...and the First Order?
Well.. he does owe me twenty years of gifts...
KR: Ask for a TIE-fighter! I dare you!
"Can I get a TIE-fighter?" asks Ben innocently, startling his gang and Chewie with his audacity.
KR: You...dared...
I'm braver than you think. Braver than you!
KR: Nah...
His father stares at him, like he's not sure whether he is kidding or not and finally says slowly, as if he were explaining something to a child: "No...it's a warship."
Not enemy?
"But, we are at war," points Ben out and Chewie, Poe, Finn, Rey and even BB-8 nod in agreement with him.
I have just switched side...
KR: That was a big mistake...that will be fixed soon.
Not if I can help it!
"Well, I'm taking you out of it," says his father firmly and adds, before Ben can even object to that ludicrous suggestion. "And until you get your own...transport ship, not and never a warship. You can fly this ship...or the Falcon. If you like."
"Really...?" asks Ben shocked.
He taking me out of the war...but more importantly, he's allowing me to fly his ships?!
KR: He said you would be allowed to fly the Falcon at thirty...then it should be safe...
His father nods. "The Falcon is particularly yours as well..."
Poe looks so jealous over that fact and that makes Ben even happier.
I own the Falcon...partly...since when?!
KR: Since he's doing everything to keep him at his side...
It's kind of working...
KR: And he's trying to make up for having abandon you...
Why did you have to remind me of that...?!
KR: Someone has to remind you to stay angry all the time...
Jerk...
"I hate the fact I wasn't the one to teach you flying...I was going to teach you when you became sixteen...I was going to teach you so many things..." His father sighs over the lost times. "Or maybe you don't know everything..." He looks up deep in thought, as if he is mentally checking a checklist of important life-skills in his head.
"Sixteen? You said thirty to me...when I was ten..." Ben gets a hurtful look when remember that painful memory. "You said that I wouldn't get to fly until then. So unfair!" He whines over the injustice, just like when he was ten years old and doesn't care for a moment that Rey or the others sees him acting so childish or they fact that they gawk at him. He only cares about voicing his objections to his father...again...even though he's plans on giving him a ship for his birthday, since of that could just be an empty promise after all.
Of course I broke that stupid no-flying rule..
KR: Along with all the other rules...
I hope I don't into trouble for breaking the no-flying rule!
His father exchanges surprised glances with Chewie and then he lifts an eyebrow. "Thirty? I was only kidding son."
Poe and Finn snorts over the melodramatic Ben had shown, BB-8 chirps-laughs and Rey shakes her head, while Ben's face heats up and he desperately wants to sink through the floor.
Kidding...?! Well, to a boy with a low enough self esteem, it was not the wisest thing to say!
KR: I agree...that was a bit mean...
"I hope you had a good flying instructor. If not, I will teach you properly," his father frowns at first sternly at him and then it gets replaced with a happy smirk, as he wants to teach him after all.
KR: He will breathe down your neck the whole time...don't do that, and this is forbidden...this is too dangerous! That is not how you use lightspeed!
I don't want him to be a backseat pilot! And like he's the one to lecture me about safe flying...!
"Is it true that the Falcon made the Kessel Run in fourteen parsecs? asks Rey, before Ben can remind his father himself, of some of his flying escapades.
"Twelve!" barks Ben at her as he still in foul mood after having looked like a fool in front of everyone, before either his father or Chewie gets a chance to correct that old and constant misunderstanding, surprising them and his gang, but mostly Rey with his harsh tone.
"You've told me the story so many times...sorry..." Ben hangs his head in shame for treating Rey like that who glares at him and crosses her arms.
I didn't mean to snap at her! I did it on autopilot!
KR: You do everything lately on autopilot...let me take the wheel instead...
His father smirks and pats his head as reward for correcting that story. "Nothing to be sorry about. It is true. It made the Kessel Run in twelve, not fourteen parsecs." He smiles at Rey, but when he sees the frown on her, he turns to Ben and scolds him. "You shouldn't be rude to the ladies...or anyone. You know better."
Chewie growls at him, BB-8 chirps angrily while Finn looks bored, but Poe is awed by his hero's story and looks eager to know more.
"I'm so sorry..." Ben looks dejected and dramatically hides his head in his arms.
Will she ever forgive me?!
KR: For this...? If not, then your relationship is doomed from the start...unless you are in kindergarten...!
"Wow, twelve parsecs..." says Poe and opens his mouth to ask more questions, but Ben beats him to it, by lifting his head from his arms and asks:"Can Rey fly too? As he desperately tries to make up for his "accidental" rudeness.
"You know I can fly!" snaps Rey at him, as she misunderstood his question completely and was still pissed at him and even more so for not just asking her directly.
"No I mean...can she be the pilot as well...for the Falcon and this ship?" asks Ben his father, who stares suspiciously at him over that strange request. "Why?"
Rey looks puzzled as well, Poe and Chewie smirk as they know what his game is, while Finn and BB-8 looks lost as usual.
"She's the only woman aboard...I'm all for women's right...equality...you see...and she is a very good pilot, she has the force so she can practically fly with her eyes closed!" says Ben hurriedly before he passes out from her staring so intently at him.
"But I would never do that...I never did that..." says Rey flustered and to Ben's surprise he can tell that she is lying through the force and the obvious telltale signs, as she curls a hair lock around her finger and laughs nervously.
KR: For someone who lectured you about lying, she sure lies a lot...
I don't care about that...but that she has flown with her eyes closed...she has trusted in the force after all? Even though when I told her to do it when we were evading the TIE fighters, she didn't want to...or did she when I had my eyes shut? Or when I was "frozen"?
KR: And she did it flawlessly without any training...really this girl is a walking cheatmode...
A beautiful and clever walking...cheatmode...I'm not calling her a cheatmode!
KR: No one forced you to...that's just my nickname for her...
Well, you are not allowed to use it!
KR: You are so mean...then I will just call her the scavenger...
She has a name, you jerk!
KR: My name is not you jerk! And what so wrong with calling her a scavenger...it's her job occupation...
Then I will start to call you a dark jedi instead of Kylo Ren, how about that? Then you will now how it feels...
KR: I don't mind...it's not like you use my name that often...only call me jerk...
Sorry about that, I will remedy that...Kylo...
KR: Fine, since you asked so nicely, I will call her Rey.
Thank you.
KR: My...pleasure...
Next up: Pictureshow!