Time passed slowly on Ajan Kloss. Finn and the rest of the resistance had spent an entire year running and fighting. Having nothing to run from or anyone to fight still didn't feel normal.
Finn was also still processing Rey's sudden departure. She had been gone nearly two days and in that time frame, he had experienced every possible emotion known to man.
Confusion, because how could she? Sadness, because he missed her. He felt guilty because was he a bad friend for letting her go? Should he have done more to stop her? He felt foolish that he hadn't seen or understood a relationship that had been brewing right in front of his eyes. He felt helpless, as if there was nothing he could do to stop her from leaving or to save her from getting hurt.
Or worse.
But most of all, he was angry because it was Kylo Ren, of all the damn men in the galaxy, Rey had to choose him.
Poe didn't say much on the matter. Finn figured it was because Poe was just as shocked and confused as he was. Or maybe, it was because he was busy planning where and how to start rebuilding the galaxy.
The one relief was Finn's budding relationship with Rose. They were separated most of their first year of knowing each other - Rose usually remained on the base with Leia while Finn was off on some special resistance mission. But now, there was no war to keep them from exploring their feelings for each other.
Rose was keenly tuned in to his current disposition. She sought him out, knowing he needed someone to lean on, and he needed it more than he cared to admit. Outside of Poe, he only trusted her to not tell anyone that it was Kylo Ren that Rey was with. He had to keep it quiet, at least until they figured out how things were going to play out.
That's the worst part. Waiting.
One evening, Finn was spilling his thoughts out to Rose in his quarters, away from prying ears. The sweet girl listened intently and silently, letting him get everything off his chest. Rose had really transformed from the rough-around-the-edges mechanical engineer to a smart, sophisticated, brave, beautiful woman, inside and out.
Finn took a deep breath and paused, closing his eyes to focus. His words were getting away from him and he was worried he wasn't making any sense.
He heard Rose step closer to him.
"Finn." She told him, "I've hated the First Order since I was a child. They destroyed my home, Hays Minor, along with my family." She paused, looking off with watering eyes. "I still remember those pristine, white stormtroopers flinging innocent people out of their homes like garbage, blasting anyone who protested."
Rose leaned in close to Finn, grasping his face in her hands.
"But Finn. I have to believe that the First Order was made up of pawns, that there can't be that much evil in the galaxy. Those stormtroopers were forced to do what they did, manipulated, like you. Like Jannah."
Finn stared into her dark eyes, remaining silent.
Rose leaned back. "We have to see the humanity in people, even in the most vile. Maybe...maybe Kylo Ren was just a pawn. Like so many others. Maybe that's what Rey sees in him. She sees Ben Solo, not Kylo Ren - just as she saw you, and not FN-2187."
Finn set his lips in a hard line. "I'm...trying. I am. It's just so hard to see good in him."
Rose nodded, "I know. But look closer - you may eventually see what Rey sees."
He hung his head, looking down at his twiddling fingers.
Rose leaned forward and kissed his forehead, gently. "I have to go calibrate the Tantive IV's drive units and engine projectors. Rumour is, we'll be leaving this planet soon."
Finn sighed and nodded, grabbing her hand to stop her as she turned to walk away. "Thank you, Rose. Really."
She smiled that adorable smile he loved, then turned briskly to continue her work.
Leaving this planet soon, huh?
He suddenly felt a pang of guilt as he realized he had been moping around the base ever since Rey left and had completely neglected his co-general duties, leaving it all up to Poe.
He sprung up from his quarters and started down the hallways to find Poe.
Finn spotted Chewy in the small dining hall, gobbling down some poor half-burnt native Ajan-Kloss bird. "Chewy! Hey, Chewy. You know where Poe is?"
The wookie groaned a reply, indicating Poe was in his quarters going over galaxy charts and New Republic rosters.
Finn trotted off to Poe's quarters, knocking urgently on the door until he answered.
The door swung open to reveal Poe, his hair a bit disheveled from stress.
"Finn." Poe said, half surprised.
"Poe, hey, look - I'm sorry. I've be a terrible co-general, leaving you alone to plan-"
Poe interrupted, leaning forward and slapping Finn's arm, "Hey man, don't worry about it. I know you've been going through a lot since Rey left. I haven't fully processed it myself, but then again she is a frustrating..." he sighed and shook his head, "such a frustrating and complicated girl." He opened the door wider, "Come in."
Finn walked into Poe's quarters, which looked like a seismic charge had gone off.
That's unlike him.
Yesterday's clothes were thrown on the ground and his sheets were tangled in a wrinkled ball at the foot of the bed. Poe's desk was littered with star charts, ship schematics, inventory listings, and historical documents which flooded onto the floor. His mobile coms-computer was resting on top of a pile of paperwork.
"Woah. Never took you for a reader." Finn remarked. "Also, just being in here gives me anxiety."
Poe looked back at his desk then at the clothes on the floor. He rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, you're tellin' me. But I've got to figure this out, I can't let them down. Not now, not after everything."
Finn walked towards the desk, grabbing a few of the spare papers and thumbing through them. "Who have you been in contact with? We know there's thousands of people who supported the cause, given what happened on Exegol."
"I've talked to some from the colonies and the core worlds...but most are just as lost as we are." Poe replied. "Most of the galaxy has been operating under their own rules since the destruction of the Republic."
"Hmm.." Finn rubbed his chin and began pacing around the room. "They need leaders. They followed us to battle in Exegol...do you think they'll follow us now? To help us rebuild?"
Poe shrugged, shaking his head. "We have try, to avoid tyranny from resurfacing."
Finn nodded. "Well..it starts with a meeting place, a capital. Then, we communicate and bring together a group of representatives from the entire galaxy, and discuss how to move forward. A democracy."
Poe smiled, teasing, "Woah. Never took you for a politician."
Finn threw his hands up, defensively, "Hey, no I don't want to be involved with politics. I'm just fiercely protective of what we've fought for. And this seems like the most logical option." He shrugged.
Poe turned back to his desk, approaching the strewn out papers. He picked up a galaxy chart, furrowing his brow as he studied it.
"Ok, so a capital." Poe's eyes flicked across the map. "Coruscant is the obvious answer, but it's clouded by the shadow of the empire...hmmm...Chandrila? Chandrila was the temporary capital for the New Republic."
Finn nodded, "A good option. Just next door and along the Perlemian Trade Route."
"True.." Poe's eyes continued to flick across the page, "Taanab? Great farming planet. Umm... Corellia? No, far too lawless. Tython? No one knows much about that planet, but it's a deep core world."
"Naboo? I've always wanted to see Naboo..." Finn mused.
"That could be one of our better options. Most law and order resides there, but it's mid-rim." Poe responded.
Finn shook his head, "Maybe we should get away from the core worlds...so much of the imperial influence is still there." Finn rebuked. "As long as we are on a major trade route...I mean, this is our opportunity to get away from what has been done in the past. To truly rebuild."
The pair were quiet for a moment, pondering. Poe ran a hand across his face.
Poe sighed, flinging the galaxy chart back on the table and placing his hands on his hips. "You know what? Think we need to chat with an expert who may know this stuff better."
"Lando?" Finn asked.
"Yep, Lando." Poe nodded. Poe brushed past Finn and he followed briskly out the door.