Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the recognisable characters of the franchise. This story is purely for entertainment.

Chapter 23

Poe was looking for Solo. This guy with his special status and, he had to admit, his special skills and experience as a pilot and military strategist, was quickly becoming a valuable member of his command team. Not that he stopped being cautious but well… he needed Ben Solo… And now they needed to discuss the details of the attack on Bespin. Which was Ben's suggestion to start with. Now they were finally ready for it.

Poe entered the communication centre and stopped short. – 'Rey!' – He shouted seeing her hologram in front of him.

She talked to Quan excitedly but she spun around hearing his voice. – 'Poe! Sorry…Commander Dameron! Good to see you…. alive.'- She smiled cheekily.

He was relieved to see her in such a good mood. Last time he spoke to her and Finn, she was not herself. But…well…it was quite a while ago. They kept moving around a lot so he was busy.

'How are you, Miss Jakku? How is our friend Finn and little Rose?' – He moved towards Quan so that she could face both of them at the same time.

'They are both well. But we are all quite bored right now. Hence this is me trying to kill the time.'

'Bored? Don't complain. Enjoy. It's not going to last long.'

'I'm trying. But I can't help thinking that I could use my time better than that. At least you are doing something useful.'

'C'mon…Bringing order to a newly liberated planet is more than useful. It is necessary.' - Poe knew very well what was happening to N'ado's squadron and ground forces. He also knew she was doing a great job. As always, she was underestimating herself. He could see Quan nodding in agreement.

'Yes. But everyone can do it. They don't really need me here. Not anymore. So, Quan, I was thinking about a short escapade…' – She looked at the medic now.

'What?' – Quan looked alarmed.

'Do you remember how we were talking about how much we still don't understand about the Force?'

'Yyyyes…' – Quan's reply was so careful that Poe burst out with laugh. The look Quan gave him was… murderous.

Rey continued, – 'I realised I have a solution to our problems. Right under my nose…well maybe a bit further away than that.'

'Yyyess?...' – Quan repeated very cautiously encouraging her to continue. Poe was just watching this exchange with growing interest.

'The Jedi ancient texts!'

'What?' – Quan was suddenly interested.

'The texts! I saw them when I went to find Luke. I bet we can find all the answers we need there. I don't know why I didn't think about it earlier. With all this knowledge, I bet we could win this war so much faster.' – She looked at them expectantly, waiting for them to digest what she had just shared with them.

Now even Poe was interested. - 'So… you say there's possibly a way we may win this war soon if you guys learn more about the Force?' – His brain started calculating.

She nodded energetically. – 'It's quite possible although I can't promise anything. But… I have time on my hands … well, what do you think?'

Before Poe had time to form any answer, a booming voice of Ben Solo coming from the door made him jump. – 'Absolutely NOT!'

...

'Permission not granted.' – Alik's voice demanded obedience. – 'And before you ask, I can tell you that I had discussed it with General D'Acy. This is her decision.'

And that was the end of their conversation. He was unmovable. He surprised her. He really did. He was usually the one backing her up. Even back on Dantooine. What was wrong with all of them?

Rey left the command quarters fuming. She simply couldn't understand why they were so blind, so careful. She missed Leia, and this was not the first time that she missed her. Leia would trust her more or at least would listen carefully. They all didn't even want to listen to all her arguments.

She was aware a part of the problem on Alik N'ado's side could be the fact that he had lost his brother Doran only two days earlier. He was distracted because of it. She felt for him. She remembered Doran from Dantooine…But Alik should still be able to make the right call.

She was walking fast through the streets of this beautiful city that somehow managed to survive the fights without much destruction. Its, empty now, lavish casinos, cafés and racetracks still intact. Probably mostly due to the fact that quite strong local Resistance group took FO forces and collaborating local authorities by surprise by starting an uprising even before Alik's troops arrived. Even children were fighting. Many of them died.

Rey was full of admiration for those people and felt for them when they were mourning after their loved ones. She was almost outside the city when she felt a presence – no, not Ben's. She was most definitely tailed and not by a guard assigned to her by Alik.

Instinctively, she rapidly turned the nearest corner. She abruptly turned around to face the approaching figure. She saw his shadow first and raised her hand. Through the force she lifted the approaching person from the ground.

'Ouch.' – A young boy was writhing in the air. – 'Put me down!'

Rey's focused face relaxed immediately. She slowly lowered her hand. – 'Tem! What were you thinking following me like this?'

A big grin appeared on the boy's face as soon as his feet touched the ground. – 'I have news for you. I was looking for you when I saw you speeding up through the streets like crazy and thought that maybe something happened. So, I followed. Thought maybe you will need help.'

She had to smile at his boyish courage and chivalry. Temini Blagg always tried to behave as if he was older than he was. It was endearing although he was really forced to grow up early. No wonder Rose fell in love with this boy when she briefly met him when they were looking here for a code breaker. Temini was still a proud owner of the resistance ring Rose gave him back then.

She resumed her walk, speaking to him. – 'You can't just spy on people like that.'

She knew he would follow her and she was right. He quickly caught up with her.

She continued, – 'It can be dangerous.'

His face lighted up with a cheeky smile. – 'Because I can end up dangling in the air?'

'Something like that.' – She smiled back.

They reached the grassy hills surrounding the city. She had always loved nature. Even as bare as it was on Jakku. It was calming to her, so almost as soon as they arrived on Canto Bight, she scouted the hilly area around the city to find the best spot.

Beyond the hills, there was only desert spreading out endlessly towards the horizon. It reminded her a bit of the planet she grew up on. She came here whenever she could when she felt frustrated. Recently, it seemed to happen all of the time.

They both sat down on a lush grass in a companionable silence.

She liked Tem. He was a bit like her when she was a child. He had no parents that he knew off, sold into slavery at a very young age. Rose and Finn behaved almost like his parents from the moment they met him again. Rey felt like his older sister. She knew he adored her. And she knew the boy had something special.

Rose thought he was just wise beyond his age but Rey could feel it, she was aware that Tem was strong with The Force. She even tried to talk to Ben about it, thinking he might train him but she failed terribly. She was glad she didn't say anything to Tem. He would be so disappointed. Now that this planet was free again and the boy's old owner was dead, he could have a chance for a more normal childhood.

She closed her eyes. She breathed in and out slowly. Her hands rested on the soft grass. She could sense the warmth, pain, the loss, the hope, the joy and the conflict of this place. Her own anger was gone. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the boy who was watching the quadruped creatures, fathers, roaming the green hills around the city freely.

She heard the stories of how badly they were treated in the city's racetracks. Rey was aware that the boy had a special bond with those animals. She enjoyed watching them enjoying their freedom.

Suddenly she remembered what he said earlier. – 'You had some news for me?' – She expected it was something about Finn and Rose leaving Cantonica.

'Oh, I thought it's something you would like to know.' – He was excited. - 'A new freighter arrived today. With your old friends on board.'

'Old friends?' – her heart started biting fast. Ben? No. It's not possible. He was so far away and actually doing something useful.

'One very furry with a strange name…Chew…something and a funny golden droid with big eyes.'

'Chewbacca and C-3PO!' Why didn't you say earlier?' – Her face was glowing now.

Her head was spinning. Chewbacca is here with the Millenium Falcon, she was sure. He had to finish the smuggling mission Larma gave him back on Dantooine. Her heart filled with excitement for the first time in a while. That was it! The opportunity she was waiting for. She just found the way to get back to Ahch-To!