Chapter 25
"You're Force Sensitive, aren't you?"
If Ben had suspected that this simple sentence would shock Finn, he also knew that he would not be easy to convince. And indeed his answer, while obvious, hadn't surprised him.
"What? I... No! What are you talking about?"
"How long have you known?"
"I have no idea what the kriff you're speaking about, leave me alone!"
The young General had rushed to put some distance between them, but Ben hadn't given him time to escape. Catching him easily, he had asked him again. But Finn still turned him down, more or less politely.
"I don't want to have anything to do with you! Who do you think you are, you bastard!"
Ben had rolled his eyes at the insult, but had let him go. Nodding his head in exasperation, he had returned to his quarters. He wasn't disappointed, he hadn't imagined for a moment that it would have worked, it would have been very unlikely. But he had succeeded in at least one thing: the idea had been planted. And now whatever he said and thought, Finn would rethink his proposition.
He had waited a few days before asking him again, giving him time to digest and reflect. To his great satisfaction, Finn became calmer and calmer in the days that followed their conversation. While Ben had caught him sneaking kisses behind doors with Jannah, he couldn't help but laugh at the similarity of their situation, as he and Rey had been doing the same thing for the past few weeks. He knew that Finn would have hated it if he had said this, but he hoped that this proud man would finally go and apologize to his friend, now that he understood what she was going through, but the young General did not.
After a week, he had come back and addressed him when he was alone. Finn didn't answer, and Ben had barely had time to explain a few principles about the Force to him before they both realized that it wouldn't work.
The second time, Ben managed to get him to sit down in front of him, and they had almost started meditating before Finn's feelings grew stronger and he finally pulled his blaster out from his belt. After that, Ben hadn't tried it again. Maybe he was wrong. He had thought that the excitement of getting to know and control a buried power would be stronger than the animosity he felt, but obviously not.
Which didn't please him at all.
He hadn't tried to train Finn for the simple purpose of getting close to Rey's friends. Although he was just beginning to appreciate Connix and Rose, he barely tolerated Poe and knew that he and Finn would never get along. No, he had made this decision for much more selfish reasons.
It was for her. Rey.
Ben felt that something was about to happen. The Force was sending him strange warnings, through dreams or visions, and whether they came from within Rey or from outside, the threats to them had not ceased, so he wanted to make sure Rey would always be protected. He had no doubt about her strengths and abilities, but he simply could not consider anything happening to her. So in his long-term strategy to ensure her safety, Ben preferred to put as many players on his side as possible. And Finn could have been one of them.
Poe had been playing a strange game the last few days too. Zorii's lack of news and defection had hit him harder than the Resistance leader was willing to admit. Ben could feel the lack of the woman's presence in his heart and mind every time he was near Dameron. He could not imagine what he was feeling right now. Well, he had some idea, but Ben didn't want to get involved. Only the Force knew that if Rey was missing or hadn't been heard from for a few hours, he'd have already turned the Galaxy upside down to find her. He already had. Many times before.
But the General had other things on his mind lately. Like using Ben to successfully recruit former stromtroopers before they joined the new Supreme Leader. Ben had responded very calmly to this proposal:
"Are you out of your mind?"
Calmly in his head at least. But to his annoyance, Rey had agreed with Poe, which had resulted in their first fight as a couple.
"It's my decision and I'd like it to be respected!" He had told her as she brought it up for the umpteenth time. "I'm not legitimate to do this!"
"But who better than you would be? This is your chance to make amends with everyone, Ben!"
"Oh, because you think I need to make amends? You think that's what's gonna make the difference? No matter what I do, I will remain a criminal in their eyes! So I might as well save myself the discomfort of this situation, thank you very much!"
"If you don't make an effort, you're sure to stay one!"
"But what do you know about it, huh? How can you be sure?"
"They're my friends, I know them!"
"Oh sorry ! I had forgotten! You're all perfect, right!
They had faced each other, shocked by what they had said.
Ben, what are we doing...
We're fighting, obviously.
She had come close and wrapped his waist around and hid her face against his chest.
"No, no, we mustn't! Please forgive me."
"Hey, you don't have to apologize."
He had raised her face so that their eyes would meet, and his heart had tightened when he saw Rey's eyes bathed in tears.
"I promised myself I'd never put you through anything ever again, and now I'm doing it again."
"I'm sorry I screamed like that. I know you're right, but I just don't feel capable of it."
Rey backed away and took his face in her hands. Exhausted by his overwhelming feelings and remorse, Ben had put his forehead against hers. He was so tired of feeling this way. He didn't deserve to have her inflict this on herself for him, he didn't deserve any of it.
"No one is more legitimate to do that than you. You got your second chance, why don't you help them take theirs? But I promise I'll respect your decision. Whatever it is."
He had captured her lips fiercely after that, putting an end to the argument that had taken place. The experience had left them both frightened but somehow drawn closer together.
The next day he had informed Poe that he had changed his mind. Not because of what Rey had said, although she had certainly been the trigger for his change of position, but because Ben had to help. He wanted to.
/
/
Quarrow, Capital of Nakadia, Middle Rim.
Rey was watching their small group in the ship that was about to land on Nakadia. Earlier in the day, the Governors themselves had contacted them to warn them of the presence of a group of stormtroopers on the small planet. Once the seat of the Senate of the New Republic before its move to Hosnian Prime, it had fallen into the hands of the First Order until its population rebelled after the Battle of Exegol. While most of the units had already escaped, about a hundred soldiers had survived and were struggling to maintain order. Poe and Connix were immediately enthusiastic about the idea, stating that although small, the troop would prove to be an excellent test for their first attempt with Ben. Finn had been against it, of course, but more out of habit than real conviction. Rey doubted he was convinced of anything lately.
She glanced at him, sitting in the back of their ship, whispering and laughing with Jannah. Seeing them finally admit to each other what everyone had noticed months before, had made her very happy for them. Rey had now stopped wanting to reconcile with her best friend, preferring to let him enjoy these moments of happiness the way she would have liked to do with Ben.
He was on her left at the moment, his spine straight and leaning against the back of one of the sofas on their diplomatic shuttle. With his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, Rey knew he was afraid of what was about to happen.
As for her, she was playing with the ties of his handcuffs, having felt like breaking them when they were put on him. Just for appearances, Connix had whispered to her, apologetically. Rey had had no choice but to restrain herself. Eventually she laid down, and rested her head on his legs, trying to give him some comfort for what was awaiting him. He thanked her with a light caress on the cheek.
Everything will be all right, she told him.
I can't fail this.
Ben, look at me. It's going to be all right.
The Force is troubled on this planet, I've got a bad feeling about this.
She felt it too, but she promised him nothing would stand in their way. She would not allow it.
When they finally landed, and the soldiers who accompanied them disembarked, no welcoming committee, no droids, no emissaries seemed to be present. They hesitated before leaving the hangar, perplexed by the strangeness of their situation. The leaders of the Resistance, the last Jedi, a mechanic, a deserter of the First Order, and its former Supreme Leader stood at the entrance to the city, with no idea where they were going. BB8, which was beginning to attract attention by sliding at full speed and emitting alarmed beeps, was stopped by Poe with a small clap of his tongue.
"Easy, buddy. We haven't come to the wrong place at least," he said, straightening up, a little worried.
"Of course not," Rose answered.
She was the one who brought them here, and she could read coordinates, thank you very much.
"A trap set by the Governors then?"
"I don't see why Finn," Connix said. "They wouldn't have any reason to, they're curious about our project and don't know what we plan to do with Ben."
This one was looking worse and worse. Rey put one hand on his back and she could see the tension in his muscles. Even her calm thoughts in their bond were not enough to soothe him. She found it strange that he was so affected, even though he didn't let others see it. But after all, they were connected at every moment by their minds and souls, it was normal that she noticed such things.
Finn walked to a group of children playing outside the shed, and after promising them that BB8 would play with them when they had finished their business, they explained them where to find what they were looking for.
"I don't understand," Rey said as they headed to the place they had been told. Were they not informed that we were coming?"
"Under what regime is this planet now?" Jannah asked.
Everyone turned to Connix who seemed to think for a moment before answering.
"Officers of the First Order were controlling it. But I must admit, I don't know what happened to them after Exegol. I relayed the news of our arrival and was informed that we were welcome. That's odd."
A wave of anxiety swept through their group. Could it be a trap after all?
Yet as they advanced through the city, remaining on their guard and jumping at the slightest noise, nothing seemed to happen to them. Several citizens even seemed happy to see them, confirming the children's indications. A few alleyways later, they came to a building that seemed to have seen better days, and was guarded by several soldiers dressed in familiar white armor.
Housed in a former barracks, the stormtroopers were on the defensive after their clashes with civilians. Deprived of their ship, and with almost all of their unit having fled, they found themselves cornered in their former command centre, waiting to be rescued or to be taken by death.
The Resistance had now reached the entrance and they were immediately put under yoke. Tension quickly rose between the two sides. Rey put her hand on her saber, ready to unleash it if one of them tried something. Finn and Jannah stepped forward and introduced themselves, pointing to the Kef Bir stormtroopers behind them who had also drawn their weapons. If they had hoped to gain a little sympathy, it was all the opposite. Whispers rose up among the ranks, and Rey could hear some "traitors," "deserters," and "rebel scum".
The time had come for Poe's plan to reveal its success, or to cause a catastrophe. The latter turned to Ben, and with a nod, told him to go. Rey watched the man she cared about most as he detached himself from their group and walked forward, his hands tied and unable to defend himself against the angry soldiers.
She wanted to go with him, she couldn't let him risk his life. How could she have thought for one moment that it was a good idea ? But Rose held her by the arm, and she had to watch helplessly.
Poe and Finn's speech was based on the more or less approximate fact that their Supreme Leader had rejected the First Order and joined the Resistance. For the soldiers who had never seen him without his Kylo Ren mask, they were forced to take their word for it, because Ben, at this moment, looked nothing like his old self. Handcuffed, in the worn-out — albeit black — clothes that the Resistance had provided him with, he was no less impressive. But Rey doubted that the stromtroopers would be as affected by his appearance as she was. He now faced them, and with no indication from Ben, Rey knew it wouldn't work.
Malastare's officers were different, they knew him, some had even served at least once under his direct orders, or had paraded in front of him. Here they were only soldiers garrisoned on a small planet on the Mid Rim. While they were still loyal to the First Order, they had no longer any respect for their former leader.
Ben, however, did not let himself be intimidated, he introduced himself and explained the reason for their coming here. A long silence followed his words, while no soldier seemed ready to speak, nor to lower their weapons. Three of them, the leaders of this unit apparently, by the sight of the colored gallons on their shoulders, had broken away from their men and were standing very close to Ben. Much too close for Rey's liking.
As he now discussed the news of the usurper Engell, the self-proclaimed Supreme Leader, who wished to unite all the forces of the First Order, a wave of turmoil swept through the soldiers. Some of them even raised their weapons and threatened Ben. Anxious to receive such reactions, he clenched his fists, and Rey could feel the wave of Force that broke the handcuffs deep inside her. They fell at his feet in a small metallic tinkling. To her left, Poe grumbled:
"I wonder why we bother handcuffing him at all."
Ben, now free to move, stepped forward and raised his hands to let them know he was unarmed.
"You betrayed us, why should we trust you?" said one of the captains at last.
"You're right," Ben nodded. "I deserted the First Order, I abandoned you, because supporting it would have meant betraying myself, and I couldn't do that anymore. The First Order was born out of the Empire, the same Empire that claimed it wanted to bring peace and security to the Galaxy. They succeeded in some aspects, but lost and abused the people's trust in so many others. The First Order followed in their footsteps, but that's not what we should have done. That's not what we will do now. We want the same thing, we want peace, justice and security, and there are other ways to achieve it than through violence and war."
Confusion in the ranks could be seen on the faces of the soldiers. It was not what they had been taught, it was not what they believed in.
"The First Order has taken everything from you! Your families, your land, your childhood, your names. Are you going to let it take your lives and your future too?"
None of them answered, and a deep, poignant silence accompanied Ben's words as all were hung on his lips.
"This General, the one who elected herself Supreme Leader, has not earned the right to command you. She doesn't care about you or who you are."
"Neither do you! You have abandoned us!" Repeated the captain. "And you're no better than her, you want the same thing! To see us die and fight for you!"
It was surprising that he placed the word die before fighting, thought Rey. For the first time since they had embarked on this mission, she felt Ben relax.
"No. That's not what I'm asking you to do today. I'm not asking you to join us, I'm asking for a promise that you won't join her. No one will ever make you fight again. It's over. If you choose to give up the First Order and your life as a Stormtrooper, you have my word, you'll be free to go."
Poe and Finn looked at each other in horror, before the former stepped forward and began to whisper.
"Ben... what are you talking about, we can't..."
But he raised his hand to shut him up.
"If, however, you decide to join us. I will personally see to it that nothing happens to you. One thing you can be sure of, you won't get another second chance. Believe me, I'm living proof. I don't pretend to deserve it, I don't pretend to be legitimate to stand here before you and ask you to make this choice. But someone helped me and saved me, someone offered me this second chance, just like the one I'm offering you now. And when an opportunity like that comes along, you'd have to be stupid not to take it. You don't seem stupid to me."
Despite the great pride and that overwhelming feeling that floated in the bond which made her blush, Rey felt a discomfort disturbing this touching speech. The captains looked at each other, then shook their heads. Oh no, thought Rey. It was over. The Stormtroopers who had lowered their weapons during the speech took them back and pointed at Ben again.
BEN! Watch out! She shouted in his mind, but he didn't move.
Everything accelerated after that. Panic crept into her, and as the Resistance forces prepared to defend themselves too, Rey drew her saber and lit it. But Ben raised his hands and turned to them. Focusing his eyes on Finn and Poe, he silently implored them to remain calm.
Then in one movement, the soldiers dropped their blasters. All of them. Some took off their helmets, others beat their chests with their fists, or pounded the ground with their feet. Rey sighed with relief, feeling her legs weakening as the aftermath of what had almost happened, reached her. Ben turned to her, and the smile he threw at her took her breath away.
He had done it.
/
Soon after, calm had returned to both sides. Of the hundred soldiers, only ten had expressed the desire to end the army and the fighting. They had taken off their armour, surrendered their weapons and pledged not to join the ranks of General Engell. But how could they be sure of this promise? Rose and Jannah worked out a solution together.
In the stormtroopers' helmets were basic but effective communication and tracking systems. Together, they cobbled a prototype of what would be beacon chips that would allow them to check that these men and women would not rally their enemy. They were willing to have them installed. These soldiers who did not wish to continue fighting would be monitored for as long as the fighting went on. It would still be possible for them to remove it once the Resistance had gone of course, but there was no room for doubt when everyone seemed ready to make a new start.
Leaning against a wall near BB8, Rey watched Ben from a distance. Arms folded, in great conversation with Poe, Connix, Finn, and the captains of the soldiers, she felt so proud for him. At last he seemed recognized, accepted, even Finn no longer seemed to openly dislike him, and she was almost sure to have heard him offer scant congratulations after his speech.
Yet Rey couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, as if she herself was out of place. It didn't take her long to put words to her strange thoughts. She had been useless. She could never have made such a speech, she would never have been able to galvanize and rally people like that. She brought no skills to their group.
Anxious not to spoil Ben's moment, she evicted the little droid, and slipped quietly to walk through the alleys of Quarrow.
It was the kind of city she liked, full of life, bustling, noisy people, with lots of colours and smells. She hadn't been overwhelmed like this since they visited Denon. But unlike the stuffy planet city, she felt good here.
She ended up in a wider street, where many drapes were hiding the sun and giving passers-by a more intimate atmosphere. Shops and stalls were located on both sides of the path, offering all kinds of merchandise. She walked past a small craftsman selling clothes, and without knowing why, she felt attracted and slowed down to look at the items. The shopkeeper greeted her lightly before turning his attention to a small sewing robot that seemed to be in bad shape. She wandered among the few items in the shop. Driven by a strange urge, she found herself wanting to get a gift for Ben. Since he'd given up everything to follow her, he had nothing left, except for the few things they'd taken out of his mother's stuff and the ratty clothes the Resistance had given him.
She would have liked him to have something of his own. Her attention turned to a large jacket made of a soft, black material. It would make him look like a pilot, she noticed, but the cut of the shoulder pads would fit perfectly with his large stature. This city wouldn't take credit, and she had nothing of value except her lightsaber, which of course was out of the question for her to offer. So instead, she offered to help the merchant fix his little droid. The man nodded with interest, and she immediately set to work. Twenty minutes later, she left the shop with a package in her hand, very satisfied with herself.
Rey had never offered anything like this before. Not to herself or anyone else. She never could afford it after all, nor did she want to. But she was hoping Ben would be touched by it. She felt him distracted in the bond, he still seemed very busy, and she had tried to hide what she was doing to surprise him. She was about to return to their ship, when she heard her name called out.
Rey froze, but only the sounds of the visitors in the market were resounding, she must have been dreaming.
"The last Jedi, Rey!"
No, this time, she was sure she had heard it. She folded down the hood of her tunic and silently walked towards the source of the voices.
In the middle of a large circular plaza, several men stood on an esplanade, shouting and chanting messages, and constantly pointing to the large holos that were being broadcast behind them. She saw the mask of Kylo Ren, and a holo showing him killing beings of which she did not know the species, with his scarlet saber.
She was startled when people next to her raised their fists and shouted:
"NO MORE FORCE USER"
Finally a holo of herself was broadcasted. The same one where she was hurling lightning bolts. She never thought she'd see it again after Denon's incident, but she was there, and again people screamed their hatred.
"DEAT TO THE JEDI!"
She couldn't let that go, she had to explain it to them. She put her hand on her saber, holding the package for Ben firmly on the other, and then walked into the crowd. When she arrived to the esplanade, she hailed one of the agitators.
"What do you blame this Rey for?"
They looked pretty excited and dangerous, so she decided not to show her face in the open unless she had to. The man didn't notice her right away, which made her repeat her question louder. Appearing to see her at last, he interrupted and bent down to talk to her.
"You're really asking what we're accusing her of?"
"Yes. She's a Jedi, she only wants to help others, she's not dangerous."
"Ah! But that's because you don't know who the Force users are, especially the Jedi. A bunch of hypocritical magicians who control people who can't defend themselves, normal people like us."
"That's ridiculous, the Jedi have never done that!"
Rey? Called her Ben in the bond. Where are you ? We're leaving.
She didn't answer, her whole being focused on that freak.
"You have no idea what the Jedi are capable of."
"Neither do you. What did they do to you? What did that Rey do to you?"
"She represents them, she's dangerous, the Force is oppressing us. We're not equals, and that' intolerable."
"What? But the Force is good, it's everywhere, in all of us. In you, too!"
"How dare you insult me like that?"
"It binds us all together, to each other, we need the Force!"
"Ah!"
The man seemed to gloat after she uttered that sentence.
"But only those who are sensitive to it think such a thing, you are one of them!"
Rey? What are you doing?
She had enough. She had to make them understand, she needed to justify herself, explain it to them. She took off her hood and looked into his eyes. Her hazel eyes darkened as she felt anger flooding in. The man recognized her at once, and surprised, he quickly backed away, and fell backwards.
"But... But it's you! You are the Jedi!"
"Yes, and I won't let you tell any more lies about me and the Force!"
REY! Shout Ben.
Immediately the spectators came closer and soon she was surrounded. But Rey was ready. If she didn't want to draw her saber — these people were already scared enough of her — she wouldn't remain defenseless.
As on Denon, she felt a stone brush close to her face, and she avoided another as she backed away and it fell at her feet. The situation was getting complicated. But they were attacking her after all, she was within her rights to defend herself. So she raised her free hand, and one of the drapes over a stall fell on a group of people. The resulting distraction and the shouting allowed her to run away, but soon she was blocked in her path. She finally decided to answer Ben, who had not stopped calling in the bond.
Ben! I'm in a bit of trouble, but I'll manage, don't come! Your presence will only make things worse. I'll meet you back at the ship.
She didn't pay attention to his answer as she was just backed into a corner. Behind her were high walls. It would be difficult for her to reach a ledge, but not impossible. While she was still hesitating to draw her saber, the cries of hatred and fear from the fanatics finally made her lose her calm as a new stone was thrown in her direction. Then anger, her vicious and treacherous anger started to show. She was controlling it, muzzling her lightning bolts and her outburst of power, but for how long?
The man who had spoken on the platform stepped forward among the crowd, and the whole group let him pass. An evil look weighed on his face, and once again Rey wondered what she had done to these people. She was about to ask him to reconsider, to stop for a moment, feeling his anger about to overtake his reason, when shouts were heard.
"Move along! All of you!"
Blaster shots were fired into the sky and the crowd began to panic.
In the distance Rey saw soldiers. It was the stormtroopers, accompanied by Resistance troops. The former no longer wore their helmets or armour, but the regular black tunic underneath. Ben stood in front of them, and ran towards her. The vision shook her to her core.
He was so handsome. She would never get tired of thinking that, even in such a moment. He looked like a great leader, a general, kriff even a king.
The fanatics were pushed back by the soldiers, intimidated by their numbers and their blaster fire. Their leader cast a last dark look at them before running away with some of his men. Rey felt her knees drop and she slid against the wall, relieved to be able to breathe again. A moment later Ben grabbed her and held her tight. She clung to his clothes, still shocked by what had just happened, but Ben had already grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to let him go so that he could look into her eyes. He detailed her face, caressing her cheeks with his fingers as he began to scream.
"Are you crazy? Why did you do that?"
"I... I'm just..."
"I was so worried, why did you leave?"
Finn and Poe arrived after him, slightly out of breath.
"Rey! You all right?" Finn cried out.
It was the first time he'd spoken directly to her since their fight.
"It was close," Ben replied in her place.
She glanced at him darkly before disengaging from his embrace and pushed him away violently with both her hands. She had to use the Force to pull him back. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but he was much stronger than she was. He took another few steps back, shocked by her gesture.
"I told you not to come!"
"And let something happen to you? Are you out of your mind?"
"Stop saying that! I didn't need you to fight them off!"
"I know! But kriff, Rey they were so many! You couldn't have gotten away without hurting one and that's not what you wanted!"
"Of course not, but I can defend myself!"
"You really think now is the time to discuss your relationship problems," exclaimed Poe, placing himself between the two of them.
She gestured her hand towards the group of angry people who had dispersed but whose members continued to stare at her gloomily. Then she addressed the General in a dry tone:
"Who are they? How long has this been going on? Why wasn't I informed?"
"Some lunatics, it's nothing, don't worry."
"Don't worry?! They were calling my name Poe! Me! They wanted me dead, people I've never even met!"
Connix, Rose and Jannah had just arrived with a few more soldiers.
"Rey you okay?"
"Yeah! I'm fine! I would like someone to explain to me what's going on!"
"In the ship ! Let's not hang around here any longer!"
They all left, their trail secured by the stormtroopers. Ben called her in a low voice, but Rey ignored him and slowed her pace to match Jannah's.
"So how'd it go?" she asked the young woman.
"Very well," the deserter replied. "There were a few... strange moments when they obeyed Ben rather than Poe, but other than that it was a success."
"Ben would never lead an army you know," Rey said.
"I never thought so."
"Some do."
They both knew who Rey had in mind.
/
While she was visiting the market, the Resistance had organized everything and as soon as all the soldiers were loaded onto the shuttles, they left town. Feeling they were leaving like thieves, Connix hurried to send a message to the contact she had had, informing them of the situation. The rest of their group gathered in the large living-room of the ship's quarters, and Rey wasted no time demanding an explanation.
"How long has this been going on?" She asked again. "I thought Denon was an isolated case, that someone was trying to intimidate us, that's what you told me!"
She was blaming not only Finn and Poe, but also Ben. The latter frowned before looking at the Generals.
"How could they have become so important in such a short time?"
"We don't know much about them. They call themselves the Eghalist. They emerged from the Outer Rim one day, and managed to gather the right people around them... They are supported by many powerful people now. "
"But what do they want? I mean, it doesn't make any sense. Why the hatred? What have I done to them?"
"It goes further than you, Rey," said Connix who had returned. "They've extended their message to all Force sensitive beings. They claim them responsible for all the wrongs of the Galaxy. Wars, the Emperor, and other, a speech full of confusion and prejudice."
"But effective..." added Poe in a small voice.
Rey closed her eyes for a moment, trying to integrate what she had just heard, then she started pacing back and forth, feeling caged, like a dangerous animal.
"There's something else you're not telling me," she exclaimed as everyone remained silent.
Poe and Connix looked at each other, uncertain, before the first one spoke.
"Well, the problem is that they are beginning to have influence in many systems... Many Force-sensitive people have been exposed, removed from positions of power, even killed. They're using a fear they invented..."
"They threatened the Resistance, didn't they? Questioned Ben.
"Not yet. But let's just say your two names publicly associated with the cause doesn't help us."
"But.."
It was Finn who just spoke. He seemed deeply shocked, but also sad. His distress moved Rey, although she could not understand why the news upset him so much. It didn't affect him after all.
"But most people who feel the Force don't even know it, they don't use it, their threats don't make sense! What are they planning to do?"
No one was really sure.
Unable to hear any more, Rey sat angrily in a corner of the ship and closed her eyes, making it clear she wanted to be left alone. Her friends started talking in a low voice, but she preferred to concentrate on her breathing, trying to calm the frantic rhythm of her heart. In spite of herself, Rey heard Ben's voice. But far from triggering the delicious sensations that this sound always did, she was annoyed this time. She was still angry at him. Very angry.
But if Rey was thinking about it, she was more angry at herself. She hadn't accomplished anything lately, just destroying, being protected or comforted by others. Once again, she wondered if she really belonged here.
Why do you say such a thing, Ben said sadly.
Because it's the truth. I feel like I'm not capable of anything anymore. I'm weak. And hated by strangers.
That's not true, Rey. You forget everything you've already accomplished and what you continue to accomplish! You survived for years on a hostile planet, all alone! You're a great warrior, you destroyed the Emperor! You are not weak, do you hear me? Don't you dare think such a thing! Those bastards have no idea who you are, what you're up against, they're just...
She let him get lost in these insults, finding nothing to answer, meditating on his words, and struggling to believe them.
And need I remind you that you beat me every time we fought? he added, trying to relieve the tension he perceived in her.
He must really be trying to cheer her up, Rey realized, because he usually always claimed he let her win, which had always had a knack for annoying her prodigiously.
Only because you never meant to hurt me, as you so vividly remind me.
I can be a bit of an idiot sometimes.
No kidding?
Don't ever think that about yourself again, Rey. Look what happened today!
You did this, Ben! I didn't do anything!
Without you I would not be here Rey. Without you I would be nothing. Please forgive me, I never meant to make you feel inferior, or weak. You're the strongest and most wonderful person to me.
Stop that.
It's the truth!
If you think I'm so strong, why do you feel the need to rush to my rescue every time?
Because I'm the most selfish person in the world. I couldn't bear to let anything happen to you.
She remained silent for a moment before raising her head and crossing his eyes.
Oh, Ben.
Come, he said, reaching out his hand to her.
She hesitated. She still felt guilty for having reacted this way, but Ben began to stare at her with his expressive eyes at the other end of the ship. She resisted for a few more seconds before getting up and running to sit on his lap and cling to him. He clutched her, and she did the same, not caring for the glances of her friends nearby. As he kissed her forehead, she advised the package containing the jacket she had put on one end of the couch when she arrived. She hesitated for a few moments before bringing it and handing it to him. Ben looked at her in disbelief, not knowing what to do with it.
What's that?
It's for you.
She looked at him, worried about his reaction. What if he didn't like it? What if he thought it was silly? Ignoring her concerns, Ben opened the package, and unfolded the cloth in front of him. He didn't say a word, his gaze fixed on it, while Rey's heart was missing several beats in a row. Had she made a mistake? Perhaps the coat reminded him of his father's usual clothes. She hadn't thought about that, it really contrasted with what he must have been used to wearing.
Why, was his only answer.
I... I wanted to offer you something, I thought it would please you, you don't have much to wear, and... I wanted to.
Ben glanced around, making sure they weren't being watched, and then leaned over to kiss her. Rey laughed at his enthusiasm as she relaxed back into his arms.
You like it?
I love it.
He grabbed a sleeve and tried to put it on. Rey helped him as he insisted that she stay on his lap, not making it easy for him.
Thank you Rey.
It's just a jacket.
It's much more than that. It's the first gift I've received in a long time.
/
/
Space Station Requiem, Lianna Atmosphere, Outer Rim.
"You had the perfect opportunity and you blew it! She was at your mercy! I served her to you on a silver platter, and you made a fool of yourself Coderex!"
"Your troops on site should have taken care of it, I can't send my men everywhere."
"That's why I warned you beforehand, kriff! Why do you think I tipped off the governors immediately... The fools didn't even think to check where the information came from. But that doesn't take the blame away from you. You failed!"
"Why didn't you ask your First Order to take care of it?"
His interlocutor seemed unsettled for a moment, but then recovered immediately.
"So you know about it. Good."
"Of course I'm aware! How long were you going to hide from me that you'd signed an alliance with the new Supreme Leader and that scum of Rotta the Hutt? How dare you do this to me?" he shouted.
"Oh shut up. You have no idea what this means to our movement. Besides, I don't understand your reaction. You and this new leader share a lot in common, I think she hates Kylo Ren as much as you do, and almost as much as I do Force sensitives."
"But to ally with them... it goes against everything I believed... you have betrayed me..."
"Come on."
"I'm going to cut you off, Skæn, I can't keep following you anymore."
"That's the first time you've ever called me by my name, Coderex. But please, do that, my friend. I'll take care of the Jedi and Kylo Ren by myself. With the legions already recovered by the Supreme Leader, our movement has taken on a whole new dimension. I no longer need your Outer Rim mercenaries."
General Coderex sensed the situation was slipping from him.
"I... Wait."
"I'll allow you to apologize and we can all pretend this never happened. Don't forget your goal."
"Kylo Ren yes..."
"You were about to tell me something, I believe?"
"We've captured the smuggler Zorii Bliss."
"And I'm supposed to know her?"
"Don't play stupid. She's Dameron's bitch."
"Oh, right. Good. Very good, Coderex. Looks like you're capable of accomplishing something after all. I'll meet you on Lianna. You will finally get your revenge, Kylo Ren will soon be dead."
/
/
Ohma D'un. The day after.
"Here, hold still, it's almost over."
"If that droid doesn't hurry up, I'll rip it all off and you'll never see me again!"
"Just try !"
Ben burst out laughing as he saw the two women confront each other. Rose joined him, and in one same movement they rolled their eyes at the sight of their two partners arguing.
With the ceremony on Naboo coming up, it was now time for the Resistance to choose the outfits their members would wear to this important event. If Denon's Governors were snobbish, it was nothing compared to the importance that Naboo had for appearances. Under Connix's watchful eye, they had imported many dresses, tunics and outfits, meters and meters of fabric more luxurious and soft than ever, to make them outfits that would match their ranks and those of their guests. Rey had delayed her own fittings for as long as possible, but her friends had caught her while she and Ben were enjoying a quiet moment alone. He, reading her Jedi books and she, asleep in his arms, had uttered the same sigh of annoyance at the sight of these troublemakers.
Ben, unable to attend the ceremony himself — for obvious reasons — had insisted on accompanying Rey for this painful moment. To help her keep her calm first, she never hid the little interest she had in all these frivolities, but above all because he would not have the opportunity to see her wearing this outfit. And although she didn't like it, Ben, for his part, wouldn't miss it.
At first glance, the long midnight blue dress that fitted her forms seemed simple in appearance. It wasn't until you got close to it that you could grasp the details. Ben hoped that no one would dare, he wanted to be the only one to contemplate the thousands of tiny silver filaments that intertwined with the fabric, like the abstract representation of distant constellations. The straight cut at the bottom of the garment went up and tightened around her slim waist, emphasizing her hips and bust. He had not uttered a word when she appeared in the room and her friends had taken her up on a table to adjust a piece of cloth, or an uneven length on one side.
Although dimly lit by artificial light, she was still glowing to his eyes. The Force seemed to flow out of her body, she was and would remain his light, guiding him into the darkness where he wandered.
She had blushed as he began to comment more and more loudly in the bond on her outfit and beauty. Despite all the compliments she received, only his opinion mattered to her. And Ben didn't waste any time in giving it to her. Soon he could no longer control his thoughts in the bond, and at the sight of Rey's cheeks getting hotter and hotter, only the presence of her friends prevented him from immediately climbing up on that table with her and ...
Capturing a thought of admiration in the mind of Dameron who stood beside him, Ben glanced at him darkly and clenched his jaws. Who did he think he was, Rey was his...
No, he mustn't think that.
He got up from his seat and began to take some steps to calm his thoughts and his body, which manifested its desires a little too much for his liking. Rey followed him with her eyes as he walked by, and she reached out her hand to caress his cheek slightly. Dameron hadn't seemed to notice his trouble, and perhaps it was for the best. Since their success the day before, the General had been polite to him, and he knew how happy it made Rey. Even Finn had been pleasant. Ben wondered if he had reconsidered his suggestion. If he had, what had happened the day before with those Eghalist must surely have reinforced his refusal.
In the background Dameron was trying to lighten the mood by making a few comments. Ben listened with a distracted ear to his ridiculous attempts at humour when Rey's name made him turn his head.
"What are you talking about," she replied.
"I'm just saying that if you're too beautiful, you'll take Kaydel's place in the heart of the Queen of Naboo."
He addressed her with one of his secret smiles, which according to another eye must have been charming, but right now Ben was only thinking of erasing it. With his fists if possible. But he didn't have time to do so, because Rey seemed to have had the same idea. She leapt down from the table, receiving the beeps of protest from the designer droids, but instead of going after the General as Ben had assumed, she rushed to Rose. Her friend had looked down, offended and worried about the joke at her expense. Connix, who had already been on edge for some time, seemed to lose her temper completely and moved towards Poe with an aggressive pace.
"What the kriff are you talking about?" exclaimed the commander.
"I was joking."
"I've already told you to stop that!"
She pointed an index finger at his chest and pushed him back until he tripped on one of the couches in the room. He fell backwards, seeming surprised at the reaction of his second, she who was usually so calm.
"Rose looks at me," she continued. "Don't listen to him, he's an idiot."
The idiot in question gave her a shocked look before getting up from his disgraceful position.
"Hey! You're talking to your General," said Poe.
"No, I'm talking to the idiot who just hurt my girlfriend."
The light atmosphere seemed to have disappeared, and everyone watched the two authority figures face each other. The General finally yielded up and gave a contrite look to the young mechanic.
"I'm sorry Rose, that wasn't funny, I'm an idiot indeed."
Ben sneered and crossed his arms over his chest, for once agreeing with him.
"Oh you shut up," replied Poe.
"I'd like to remind you," continued Connix, "that the Queen is married and has two children, so if you're so keen on making dubious jokes, at least make an effort to make them funny."
"She's married, yes. To a woman."
He raised his hands in the air as a sign of surrender to the dark glances of the three women present.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop, I promise."
The fittings resumed, and Ben turned his attention back to Rey, who winced as a droid pulled her hair back and forth, creating a complicated hairstyle and causing her to moan in pain. He clenched his fists of anger. If that tin can pulled one more cry of pain out of her, he was going to...
"I know she likes you, how can I compete with a queen..."
Connix sighed as she cast a new, exasperated look at Poe, as if to say, "See what you've done?" before taking her partner's hand in hers.
"There's no need for you to compete! She likes me, but it's because I've known her for a long time, I was present at her coronation, Leia had introduced us."
"Because she was training me and she was her niece," she hastened to add before Rose's horrified gaze.
"Leia's niece?" Rey exclaimed. "But then ..."
She turned to Ben.
"Your cousin?"
"Distant," he confirmed with a shrug.
"Is this a joke?"
Ben, embarrassed by all those glances at him, sat back in the corner of the room.
"I thought you knew it."
"Why didn't you tell me, Connix?"
She growled.
"I've already mentioned it, Poe, but your legendary memory must have failed you."
She seemed to realize that she was beginning to become impertinent.
"Why do you think she let us take Ben in here when everyone else refused?"
"That explain why she hates me."
"She doesn't hate you! You're the one who..."
"She doesn't really carry me in her heart either," Ben cut her off.
Rey seemed disturbed by this information. Ben didn't understand why, it didn't change anything for him. He had no affinity with this cousin either. Yet she wanted to know more, and she approached him for questioning, once again ignoring the droids who were taking care of her.
"But Luke didn't have a... "
"My grandmother Padme," he explained to her calmly, "the former queen of Naboo had a sister, Sola Naberrie. Her granddaughter, who chose the same name, was elected to the regency years later. She is a little older than me, and I only saw her two or three times when I was a child."
Rey nodded her head, but even though her questions had been answered, she was still confused.
"Sometimes I forget you're royalty."
"Please don't say that."
"If Her Majesty the Princess would let the fitting go on we would all be grateful. Rose forgive me, really."
He took her by the shoulders and kissed her on the cheek to make amends. The latter, the living embodiment of kindness and gentleness, laughed before freeing herself and offering him a bossy look.
"You owe me. Why don't you come over here and pick out your outfit? Rey's not the only one who missed the deadline, you think I didn't notice?"
"I'm a General, I shouldn't have to endure this," the man grunted as he followed her.
He, Connix and Rose walked to the back of the room, and debated in front of the pile of clothes that had been placed on one of the tables.
Ben pulled Rey up against him, and she put her arms around his neck.
"A prince," she murmured.
"Not you too!"
He could see that she was about to protest, but he preferred to silence her with a kiss. His hands left her waist where they had been until now, and he pulled them up to the temporary ties that held the front of her outfit.
Have I told you how much I love this dress?
I wouldn't mind if you took it off, she growled as she bit his neck.
He grunted too before firmly grasping the delicate fabric, but a cry from Connix made them jump and come to their senses.
"Rey! Don't you dare damage the dress! And you Ben if you could... Finn? Is everything all right?
Everyone turned to the newcomer standing in the doorway.
"Ben, called him Finn. Can... Can I talk to you? It's... About the stormtroopers," he said.
He stood up, undid Rey's hands, who wouldn't let go of him, promising her he wouldn't be long, and followed the young General down the hall. He seemed uncertain and hesitated before speaking.
"So here it is..."
Finally. He'd made up his mind. Ben didn't need to probe use the Force to find the answer he was looking for, the new glow in Finn's eyes offered him everything he wanted to know.
"Tonight," he told him. "When everyone is asleep. In the forest."
/
/
Space Station Requiem Prison quarters, Lianna atmosphere, Outer Rim.
Zorii contemplated the marks left on the steel walls of her cell. Drawing the deep grooves with her finger, she wondered again how she could have been so stupid. Several days since her capture had passed without her seeing anyone, only a droid had brought her two meals a day. The other cells were all empty.
Zorii was alone, and terribly bored. What were they going to do with her? The leader, General Coderex, said she would serve them. But for what? A ransom demand? No, they got Kylo Ren's entire fortune back by capturing her, so credits couldn't be their motive. A trade then? Her for the Resistance prisoner? But the Jedi would never allow it.
She buried her head in her lap and wrapped her arms around them. Her breathing became labored. The waiting and worrying was driving her crazy, but the fear was beginning to win her over. How long would it last? As if to answer her silent prayer, a thud resounded in the empty and sinister corridors of the prison. Then voices and muffled sounds resounded. Several people were approaching.
She got up and quickly wiped away the tears that had been beading from the corner of her eyes, then sticking her head to the bars, she examined the new arrivals.
Two men, followed by dozens of heavily armed and hooded soldiers, marched briskly towards her cell. If she recognized the little General, the other was unknown to her. Dressed in a light linen tunic, he was tall, and wore long blond hair pulled back, so that the locks fell on his shoulders. She did not know why, but this man immediately made her feel uncomfortable. She avoided crossing his gaze when he stood in front of her, looking at her through the bars. Trapped and humiliated, Zorii stepped back into the darkness.
"Well done Coderex."
"There, you have a leverage over her now, the Jedi should be joining you shortly."
So it wasn't Kylo Ren they wanted, it was Rey! What was that for? It didn't make any sense.
"You're crazy," she cried out. "We're not friends, she will never come to my rescue. The Resistance doesn't even know I'm here!"
"They will."
The man smiled at her and Zorii felt like throwing up, whatever that man was, he was definitely evil. A sick aura was coming out of his face and made her want to wash herself of the look he had cast on her. They talked quietly in front of her cell and then left her alone again.
Zorii curled up on herself. How many minutes or hours went by as she vigorously rubbed her arms, trying to make the memories of her meeting with her jailer go away.
"He gives me the creeps too."
She rose abruptly and looked for the owner of that voice. A few meters from her cell was the spy.
"Well, well," Zorii said, with all the condescension she kept inside. "How we meet again. Come to gloat? Or to taunt me with the handsome bounty you must have received for my capture? Maybe you're finally going to use it to do something with that hair of yours"
"Not really no," she replied, ignoring her last comment. "Why did you insist like that? If you had left me you wouldn't be here."
Zorii spat through her bars, and she was pleased to see the woman step back.
"Go away."
"That was a good move, you know, on Coruscant. I didn't realize it until it was too late."
"I shouldn't have let you run, I should have shot you and let you bleed to death."
"Clearly. But why did you do it then?"
She seemed genuinely curious. With her head tilted to the side, she watched her intrigued, trying to unravel the mystery of her former hunter. Zorii wanted to grab her by the hair and break her neck. Instead she scowled, and stared at the wall. Tired of her silence, the spy stood up and began to walk away. Although she felt a deep hatred for the woman, Zorii realized that her fear of being alone again was stronger than her hatred. So she held her back.
"I wanted revenge, on you and ... But it seems I could never do it," she reluctantly said.
Why did she answer her? Why was she justifying herself?
"If it's any consolation, that murderer will soon get what he deserves."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Kylo Ren. That's who you wanted revenge on, isn't it? For your planet? Kijimi, right?"
Zorii growled. Of course she knew. She worked in maintenance, in the hangars, she must have gleaned information from all over, and that Babu blabbermouth must have told what happened to them.
"You're well informed," she said, from the tip of her lips.
"That was my job. He destroyed my planet and my family, too. We're not so different the two of us."
Zorii threw herself against the metal bars. The woman backed away, shocked.
"We're nothing alike, I'm not a kriffing traitor!"
"I was paid to do it, it was a job like any other. I don't think you're in a position to judge me spice runner."
"Get the fuck out of here. I don't know why you came, but I swear, if you stay one more minute..."
"Actually, I had something to propose to you."
That was the cause of her downfall, Zorii realized. Accepting deals and proposals from people she hated. But if Solo had gotten her, this time it wouldn't work.
"I'm Tyna, by the way."
"I don't give a shit."
/
/
After making sure Rey was deeply asleep, Ben put a light kiss on her cheek and then straightened up. In the darkness of the night, he gazed at her tenderly. What he was about to do would be for her, just for her. He was ready to do anything to protect her. No one deserved to be happy and safe as Rey. Even after weeks, he was still amazed that this wonderful woman was willing to share her time and affection with him. She turned over in her sleep, unconsciously looking for him behind her back, and Ben felt himself melting. He felt filled with such happiness, such lo...
"Kriff," he whispered.
He hadn't realized what time it was. What lay ahead would be complicated enough without him provoking Finn into thinking he was late.
He reluctantly closed the bond and Rey disappeared from his bed. It was better that she didn't know what he was doing, not until Finn had at least told her. He didn't know why he was so kind to him, he didn't deserve it, but he had convinced himself that this secret belonged to Finn and that only he could decide with whom he would share it. He ran at full speed to the clearing where he and Rey had fought, an eternity ago it seemed. Finn was already there, sitting on a stump and looking prodigiously annoyed.
"I've been waiting for you for thirty minutes, what the hell were you doing?" He said dryly.
Ben grimaced at the impertinence of his new apprentice and thought it best to remind him to behave. He shouldn't forget who the student here was.
"If we're both going to make this work, you're going to have a little more respect for me."
"You can always dream about me calling you Master or something."
Ben sighed and restrained himself from doing anything foolish. It had to work, no matter how hard it would be.
"What made you change your mind," Ben asked him after a moment.
He had a little idea, but he'd rather have heard it from him.
"I agreed, that's the most important thing, isn't it? So, what did you want to teach me?"
He put himself in a fighting position, wielding an imaginary lightsaber. Ben shook his head impatiently, wondering if he hadn't made a mistake after all. Then he sat cross-legged on the tree stump and invited him to do the same. Finn looked at him in disbelief, almost disappointed, and then followed him with a grumble.
"Good. Now close your eyes."
Seeing that Finn refused to comply, perhaps for fear of being vulnerable in his presence, Ben closed his first. He didn't know if his student would obey him, but he too would have to learn to trust him. He waited a few minutes, the noises of the night covering their breathing, and then he spoke again.
"Try to clear your mind."
"What's that? That's your first lesson? Are you kidding me?"
"Shut up."
Perfectly receptive to the Force, he could feel everything around him. The rustling of leaves in the wind, the sounds of animals lurking in the bushes, but also the anger and annoyance of the young General in front of him. His fear too. He was terrified. So Ben decided to help him and distract him a little by making him talk about himself.
/
An hour later they hadn't succeeded in anything. Finn had certainly opened his eyes long ago, but Ben hadn't moved an inch. His pupil's thoughts were too confused, too agitated for them to succeed in doing anything. He had quickly realized that the fact that he was his teacher, among so many others, was the main problem. If Rey had done it, things would certainly have been different, but it had to be him. Because Ben couldn't tell her what he was going to do with Finn. He would one day. Maybe. He knew she'd be mad at him, but he couldn't go back on his decision. The thought of the young woman sleeping alone in her bed saddened him, and he decided to speed things up. He would even provoke Finn if he had to.
"Why didn't you ever tell Rey?"
"It's none of your business."
"Hm. You're scared. Scared of what it meant. Scared of discovering that power. You saw what it did to her, you were afraid it would happen to you, too."
"Just stop it."
"You could stop me if you'd just focus!"
"I said stop..."
"You are afraid that the Force is the reason for all that you have accomplished, that you are not in control of your choices and your destiny."
Ben was surprised to find such thoughts in Finn, as he had always thought he was a coward and a traitor. Perhaps he had misjudged him.
"I can only understand you," he said.
Finn looked in disbelief at the man he hated, but who had just put words to one of his greatest fears.
"Why are you doing this, Ben? What's in it for you? Do you enjoy having this power over me? Knowing there's nothing I can do to stop you? Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I'm trying to help you."
"Stop it! Stop trying to make it seem like you've really changed!"
Fine. Now he had really pissed him off. He had tried it the easy way, his uncle's way. But he himself had never learned like that, why did he think he could teach something other than what he was. Finn's face contracted, and for the first time that night, he focused. His gaze went blank, then he closed his eyes, and Ben knew what he had to do.
"You're scared too," Finn said. "Afraid of... Afraid of losing her, afraid we'll find out something... That Rey is..."
He suddenly opened his eyes.
"No," Finn whispered.
"Yes."
"It can't be."
"And yet."
"That's not true, you're lying!"
"I assure you I'm not.
"Rey cannot be his granddaughter ..."
Ben didn't answer but nodded his head with a sorry look on his face. He had understood from the first days of his captivity that Rey had not, and did not wish to reveal her origins. He felt terribly sorry for betraying her in this way, but he couldn't wait any longer. Although she was getting better and better he knew that sooner or later the darkness she was trying to bury would seek to possess her again. And if Ben wasn't there then... He had faith in her, in her incredible power and the courage she held. But he had always been so selfish, he wouldn't risk letting her fight alone.
"Was that... the Force I just used?" Finn whispered, interrupting his train of thought.
"Yes. But that's because I projected my thoughts to you to access them, don't think it's that simple."
"Would it kill you to say a word of encouragement?"
Ben rolled his eyes.
"If you didn't hide it from me... why tell me that... why reveal it to me..."
"Because I feel like something terrible is about to happen. Rey and I have been having strange dreams lately and I feel like this is a warning. I'm afraid that... I'm afraid that I won't be there for her all the time..."
"You're just gonna leave her? How can you..."
"Not of my will! I will always protect her! Even if I have to die for that..."
"Am I supposed to be sad right now?"
Ben didn't answer and motioned for him to continue. Finn closed his eyes and began to see Ben's thoughts again. It wasn't what he had wanted to teach him, but it was just as well to begin with. He began to select some neutral memories and thoughts from his life. Words from his parents, a few moments of his Jedi training with Luke, the beginnings of course, before he couldn't get close to his uncle without wanting to hurt him. Then some memories of Rey. When she talked to him about her friends, about Finn, about the sadness and guilt she felt when she saw him mad at her. Ben was almost tempted to make him pay for Rey's suffering by sharing with him some of the intimate moments they had spent together, but he restrained himself. Those memories belonged only to them.
He wasn't sure if Finn perceived them all, but soon his student became tired of it and asked him to train him in something "cool" instead.
"Like what?"
"I don't know... levitate something?"
Ben had laughed softly without being able to help himself. They were all the same. He himself had been terribly excited when he had brought something to him for the first time. He showed him a small pile of pebbles and wood shavings at the foot of the stump on which they had sat, and motioned to him to go for it.
"But ... How?"
He threw his hand to the ground and closed his eyes. Nothing happened. Ben struggled not to smile at his apprentice's discomfited look, but instead he reached out his own hand, and all the pebbles rose up before them. Then he put it back in his lap, but the stones hung in the air, and then they began to turn around Finn. This one shaked his head, annoyed by his little game.
"No need to show off, just teach me how to do it."
"Clear your mind," Ben replied, letting the stones fall to the ground.
"That again? It's getting annoying."
"Levitation is one of the easiest techniques to learn. Three-year-old padawans could do it without difficulty."
"You're right, who needs encouragement? I really don't know what we're doing here. You're the most annoying, the most arrogant, the most kriffing piece of ..."
In front of him had risen a pebble. The smallest one, only a few centimeters wide.
"Did you... ?"
"No. It's interesting how you can concentrate when you're angry. I wonder what my uncle would have thought of that," Ben continued thoughtfully.
"I did that..."
He threw his hand, but the little rock fell to the ground. Finn, disappointed, tried again but the experiment failed again.
"Well, say something to piss me off."
Ben laughed.
"That's not how you're going to succeed."
"You're kidding me? Isn't that what you're doing? Getting mad all the time? Using the power of the dark side?"
Ben raised an eyebrow.
"And that's what you want to learn? How to use the dark side?"
"No!" Finn cried out, alarmed. "No, of course not, but since you said I could concentrate when I got angry, I thought..".
"It's because your anger at me makes you empty your mind, you focus your whole being on one thing. Try to do it without me provoking you. Close your eyes and focus on my voice."
"If you think for one second that I'm gonna..."
"Finn."
Ben didn't know if the former soldier would appreciate what he was about to do, he himself wondered if it was a good idea. Why did he want to help him? Did he like teaching after all? No, it couldn't be that.
Focus on the rock.
"What are you doing? Was that you? In my mind?"
Shut up and do as I say! Focus on the stone. Visualize it. Feel the Force, around you, in the air, on the ground, it's everywhere.
Now use it. Think about what you want to do. And do it! Visualize it in your mind.
"That's rubbish, you mean all I have to do is imagine it and..."
"Finn. Open your eyes."
In front of him flew weakly the small pebble.
"Oh shit. I did it!"
"Well now that you've levitated something, we can pick up the other exercise."
Two hours later, his student was completely exhausted but satisfied. And soothed in a way.
So was Ben. Despite his little comments and criticisms, he was hard for him to admit that Finn was doing his best. He was now running out of memories to pass on to him to test his abilities, and he had finally started to think back to the events of the day before. His concern for Rey made Finn shudder.
"When they came after her, I was so scared," he said in a small voice. "I know she could have fought back, I've seen her in action, but ..."
Unconsciously he had begun to caress his leg, where the tree branch that Rey had dropped had broken the bone.
"But I thought it could have been me instead. I never wanted that, that power. The Force. But it's here, inside me, and I couldn't let it terrify me any longer. I've seen what fear of the Force makes people do..."
Ben nodded, understanding what he was saying. If he hadn't been so afraid for Rey, he would have been almost happy about the incident at Quarrow's market. It had finally made Finn aware of his responsibility as a Force sensitive. It was unfair, he himself sometimes wished he'd never had that power, but they couldn't change who they were. All that mattered was how they used that power.
"And you're the one who said that," Finn exclaimed in disbelief as Ben shared his point of view.
"I know, it sounds strange."
"That's not the word I would have used."
"I've had a lot of time to think about it over the last few months."
"Prison does that, I guess."
A new silence stretched between them. Finn raised his hand to the small pile of rocks and concentrated. This time, three stones rose, trembling slightly. A big smile stretched his lips without him being able to stop it, and when he looked at it, Ben nodded approvingly. It was probably the first time that Finn hadn't made an angry or disgusted grin at him.
"Listen Ben... I don't know what you were talking about, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I hope nothing happens to you... for her sake," he said. "She needs you too much. I don't understand it and I accept it even less, but one would have to be blind not to see that you're helping her."
"Will you finally stop ignoring her then?"
"It was stupid of me... I guess I was jealous and blind."
"She needs you too, you know. All of you, her friends. That's why I told you this secret. She'll be mad at me, but I want to make sure at least one person knows what she's up against if I were to... leave."
"What you said about Palpatine, it's horrible, but... it doesn't change anything for me. She'll still my friend, and I know she'll get over it. She's strong."
"More than you'll ever realize, but she needs people around her."
"So I'll... I'll be there."
"Thanks, Finn."
"When did you realize that I could... well you know what I mean."
"I had my first suspicion on Kef Bir. But when you let me pass with the Falcon, I understood. That day I projected all of my intentions and you sensed them. If you hadn't been able to sense the Force, I probably would have been shot."
"Probably yes."
"I imagine you regret it."
"I thought I did. But no, I never could. It's not that I don't want to though, but... you saved her. I love her more than I hate you."
"Lucky for me. Come on, focus again. This time I won't project."
"I'm tired, I'd rather stop."
"Don't be lazy!"
"The sun will be up soon, we've been here for hours! You're such a bad teacher!"
/
/
Rey yawned and stretched. Curled up in the Falcon's hold, she was looking for repairs to make to her ship. She was alone at this early hour of the morning. She'd tried to wake Ben, but his cute grunts had convinced her to let him sleep. She couldn't understand why he was so tired, since he was the one who had insisted on going to bed early the night before. But his sleep had been so restless lately that she hadn't insisted.
Despite the Falcon's still scruffy appearance, she couldn't find anything to do. Deeply annoyed, she decided to stop and look for another occupation instead. She could always run a little, she had lost some stamina lately.
Rey was about to get out of the ship when she froze as she saw a familiar silhouette in the hall.
"Finn?"
"Can I speak with you?"
"Yeah, sure."
She let him in and the two of them sat down on the floor.
Days of silence and unspoken words had left deep marks on their friendship, and Rey realized how much she had missed him. She was about to say something to break the awkward silence, but Finn beat her to it.
"Look, I was an idiot, I... I wanted to apologize."
"I owe you an apology, too."
"Rey, there's something I should have told you a long time ago."