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

Chapter 26

Ben was in his room trying to relax or rather simply forget about the fight, about the deaths their attack brought - which their every fight was bringing. Would he be ever able to disentangle himself from this war and the strive, suffering and death it was bringing?

He thought immediately about Rey. She was his medicine. He opened his mind and reached out towards her. He liked taking advantage of the fact that he still was the only one who could easily open the connection and close it at will. He liked surprising her, seeing her face lighting up the moment she could feel his presence.

And here she was. Still not knowing she was watched by him. She was seating in a relaxed pose on what he assumed was the ground. She laughed and clasped her hands together saying. – 'I wish I could go with you.' – Ben involuntarily smiled. So, she was talking to someone. This was only making it more interesting.

By now she noticed him. She fixed her eyes on him for a moment. Ben didn't know why but it immediately filled him with peace as if he was home.

'I…am not alone.' – She said. There was something weird in her voice. And Ben knew there must have been a double meaning to it. She was carrying two different conversations at the same time. Her eyes were still on him so he quickly said with a slight smirk on his face. – 'I know.'

She looked back at someone who must had been sitting right next to her and nodded her head. Trying to hide a smile created by their little game, she cleared her throat. – 'Yeah. I just…thought I saw something. Sorry Finn…'

'So, it's Finn.' – Ben crossed his arms on his chest relaxed. – 'Say hello to him from me.' – She looked at him. He sent her a crooked smile noticing her surprise at his playful tone.

Her whole body shifted and she averted her eyes. – 'Ben Solo? What about him?' – Her voice was uncertain. Ben could see she struggled with temptation to look his direction again.

'Tell him it is very rude to talk about someone behind one's back.' – Ben said but Rey was ignoring him focusing on whatever Finn was talking about. And it seemed Finn was talking about him. How frustrating it was that he couldn't hear what Finn was saying.

After a moment of silence, Rey was now replying with hesitation. - 'I did it first as you know…by chance. But it was his idea to do it more often and find the right technique to do it…and the whole idea of creating special shelters for them…I think it was maybe me… and giving them a chance to change sides…it was…I guess…a bit…both of us?'

So, they were talking about the program for defected stormtroopers. Ben nodded but before he could comment on this. Rey was asking Finn a question.

'Poe really said that?'

Ben was flabbergasted. What Dameron had to do with that? Before he could make it out, Rey was speaking again. Sudden changes of topics started making him dizzy so he just listened. He could listen to her voice forever anyway. She kept talking to Finn for a while. Her answers were all he could hear:

'There is no need. And to be honest it's me who should thank you...'

'For creating this miracle in the first place. For trusting me when we found him on Dantooine, when everyone else thought I was mad…'

'Why did you help me then?'

'There is no need. We are all on the same side now.'

After a longer silence Rey suddenly looked directly at him, their eyes locked for a long time and then she said. – 'Just like you trust me, I wholeheartedly trust Ben now. And this trust is bigger than anything else. I would trust him with my life without a moment of doubt. And I hope he trusts me as well.'

Ben was looking back at her transfixed and so surprised by her words that he lost the focus and the connection was lost. She disappeared. Only her words were still echoing in his mind. She trusted him wholeheartedly. She said she would trust him with her life without hesitation.

He was still thinking about it and analysing the whole conversation he overheard. There was something nudging at him as if something was off but he just couldn't put his finger on it.

...

'Chewie! What is he doing here? What were you thinking!?' – Rey was pointing at the guy seating at dejarik table. He looked like tramp. Chewbacca started his explanation but she really wasn't in a mood to listen. – 'I told you. No one should know about it.'

She managed to trick everyone, even Ben. She told him she trusted him. She knew he got this part of the message. She hoped he would understand the full message she tried to convey as soon as he learns about her stunt. A message asking him to trust her. She was really surprised she managed to hide her plan from him for so long. She guessed he must had been really occupied with something else. Which was working well for her. She was hoping he would forgive her one day. After all she was planning on contacting them as soon as they reached Ahch-To. Now it was all lost before her adventure even started.

'S-S-S-Sorry' – The stranger raised his hand. – 'If I may interrupt…'

Rey looked at him with disdain. – 'Ok. What do you have to say?' – She crossed her arms.

Chewie again tried to say something but she silenced him with her hand. Right now, she was focusing on the tramp who was looking straight at her.

'It is a misunderstanding.'- He simply said.

'Misunderstanding?'- She asked. His nonchalant confidence was a bit off putting.

The man rested his both hands on the table. – 'L-L-L-Lets start from the beginning. I'm DJ and you are Rey Jakku, aren't you?'

Rey still wasn't sure what to think about people calling her Jakku as if it was her surname. Whether she liked it or not, this name was spreading around the Galaxy – Rey Jakku – the Jedi girl. But she had another problem to sort out right now. - 'Whose side you are on?'

'I'm neither a part of Resistance…nor a part of First Order. I'm a trader.' – He shrugged his shoulders. - 'I'm on no one's side because no one is on my side. I just needed a lift and your friend here…' – he pointed towards Chewbacca, – 's-s-s-said you needed to leave this place unnoticed. As it happens, I'm a master of escapes so we could help each other.'

He was looking at her waiting for her response. Something was nudging at her. Something inside was saying that she shouldn't trust this guy and yet she asked. – 'How can you help us?'

'I know everything about their security c-c-c-control system and I know how to break in it without leaving a trace. I will cloak our departure in such a way that we will be off their scopes and able to slip through their shield unnoticed.'

She was listening carefully now. She was considering leaving Cantonica by force if she had to which meant everyone, including Ben, would know immediately that she left and she would be chased straight away. She knew that with a head start she still would be able to get to Ahch-To and only then she planned to let them know where she was. She reckoned once they caught up with her on Ahch-To, they wouldn't mind to visit the temple and take the texts. But with the help of this guy, a completely new opportunity was opening before her. A solution that wouldn't disturb anyone. The newly forming United Republic needed all her friends. She pushed away anxious nudging in her.

'You mentioned you needed a lift. Where are you going?'

'N-N-N-Nowhere in particular. Just as far away from here as I can. As you may, I'm sure, understand, in my profession, I have many enemies.' – He clasped his hands together.

'So, where do you want us to take you? It's a secret mission and we cannot tell you where we are going.'

'Your friend here explained it all to me. You can leave me on any planet of your choice which still has some resemblance of life on it. D-D-D-Deal?' – He reached his hand out and she hesitantly took it.

'Deal.' – She said as Chewbacca happily picked up preparations to take off, disturbed by her entrance and her outburst. – 'Better get started working on that cloak you mentioned. We have no more time to lose.' – She looked at DJ for the last time and took her sack to the crew quarters.

C-3PO followed her all the way there. – 'Do I understand correctly that we are doing something illegal, again? Oh mine, oh mine.'

'It's no big deal' – She tried to convince herself probably even more then him.

'I would like to advise you against it.'

'Thank you very much but as I said…not a big deal.' – She carelessly threw her stuff on one of the beds. – 'Stop worrying. Everything will be all right.' – She patted his shoulder as she passed him on her way back to the main hub.

She smiled as she heard his voice following her. – 'It is beyond my capacity to understand why people love to break the rules so much.'