A/N Hey all! Here is a short chapter after MONTHS of hiatus. More coming though. Enjoy!
Once Poe and Laherra sobered enough to start making sense, the others file into their chairs to begin their planning again. It devolves into arguments quickly.
"Look, if we take the entire Resistance fleet to Tattooine, with the old First Order fleet backing us up, they will see how out-matched they are, and we can avoid any fighting at all and force a surrender."
Poe argues but Rey is shaking her head before he finishes speaking.
"Or they'll refuse to back down and kill Leia to gain notoriety and fame. These people are zealots, they don't think rationally."
Ben lurches to his feet and glares around the table with a clenched jaw.
"If we discreetly land on the planet, I can gauge the situation and negotiate; perhaps find a safer way to rescue my Mother."
Finn huffs in annoyance and stands as well.
"Or they'll take you too and have everything they want; disappearing into the ether."
Ben glares at the former stormtrooper and slams his hands on the table in frustration. The three men are on their feet, glaring at one another over the table.
"Well, then you can show up with both kriffing fleets and blow the place to hell!"
Ben yells and Rey gets to her feet beside him to try diffusing the situation.
"Okay, okay. I think we can all agree that we need to know more, before we can decide on any course of action. So, let's jump in the falcon and check it out."
Everyone turns to Rey, but no one comes up with a good argument against her idea.
Chewie cuddles Hanna in closer and speaks in Wookie to Rey, after which, Rey nods at him in agreement.
"Chewie says he can have the Falcon ready in thirty minutes. The junk trader on Jakku used to talk about dealing with another trader on Tattooine, a place called Toshe Station?"
She says quizzically and Maz nods as she delivers another round of drinks to the table.
"Yes, that would be far enough away from Jabba's palace to avoid immediate detection. However, they will know the Millennium Falcon on sight. You will not have long."
Ben leans in with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Rey, do you think you could convince them that you're a junk trader, trying to barter parts?"
All faces turn to Ben and then swivel around to find a smirking Rey.
"I think I could make it convincing."
Ben returns her smirk as he straightens from where he was leaning over the table.
"That will give us a legitimate reason for being there and cause less suspicion. We can feel out the situation better."
Rey nods decisively and turns to Poe and Finn.
"You can have the fleet ready on a neighbouring system, waiting for our call."
Rose stands from her seat next to Rey.
"And we can make a better plan after we know more." She says with finality and the others all nod begrudgingly.
As everyone starts dispersing into smaller organizational groups, Rey tugs on Ben's collar to pull him aside for a moment into a dark alcove.
"What do you think the chances of getting any kind of help from Kato are?"
Ben glances over Rey's shoulder at where Chewie is making Hanna giggle by dangling some beads over her head while he cuddles her into his furry chest.
"If Zara's intent was to harm Hanna, I think Kato would fight to the death to save her."
Ben winces and drags his gaze back Rey's serious eyes.
"If any of the rest of us look like we are on the losing side… he'll let us die without a second thought."
Rey's face turns contemplative and she steps forward into Ben's arms with an audible sigh.
"Then we better not lose." She says against the skin of his neck.