Kylo Ren is a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them. Which is why he waited until they had cleared Freeport's atmosphere to enter the coordinates to the Hydian Way hyperspace lane that would be the first leg of the trip that would take them to the Core. He did, however, underestimate Rey's reaction to taking a shipment destined for Coruscant.

"Coruscant? Coruscant! Dammit Kylo Ren, do you have a death wish? Why don't you just do a fan dance on the floor of the Senate while you're at it?"

"I knew you would overreact. That's why I waited to tell you." said Kylo, relatively calmly.

"This is not overreacting. You haven't seen anything close to overreacting yet."

"Did you see how much we're getting to deliver this stuff? A shitload of credits. We're at the point were we need to rebuild or retire the Falcon. This will put us over the top with credits to spare."

"Really, for a lousy spice shipment? I knew we did some smuggling but when did we become drug runners?" growled Rey.

"It's not spice. It's Spice."

"What's the difference?"

"Besides a capital 'S'? It's formal name is Melange, it originates outside the galaxy, and it's not illegal to transport or use. It's also worth four times it's weight in kyber crystals."

Rey looked at the box in the back of the cockpit. It wasn't very big or heavy. It was locked and the edge between the top and the rest of the box was sealed with some sort of solder. Someone did not want anyone opening that box.

"What else do you know about it?" she asked.

"The shipper in Freeport didn't have a lot of information. They were just a transshipment point from Kamino, and Kaminoans got it from somewhere even farther beyond the galaxy. Some planet named Arrakis."

Kylo continued, "As far as the actual Melange is concerned, it's a psychoactive drug that's highly addictive and it apparently mimics many of the abilities that Force sensitives possess. Withdrawal symptoms are a bitch - killer level. And extensive use will turn your eyes a bright, cobalt blue."

"Is that it?" asks Rey.

"Don't open the box."

"I would think that would be a given."

"It is. Don't open the box Pandora."

Rey allows herself to be mollified for now. She's still not happy that they are going into United New Republic territory but she reckons she'll deal with the fallout, if there is any, when they land on Coruscant.

After a couple of hours they were at the point where they would leave the Hydian Way hyperspace lane and hook up with the Corellian Trade Spine route. There was a gap between the two where the Falcon would have to travel through normal space, but that shouldn't be a problem. Pirates notwithstanding, the odds were pretty low that they would run into any.

Han Solo always said to never tell him the odds. His son felt the same way. He did, however, remember that just because the odds are low that something would occur it did not mean it would never occur.

Rey was back puttering around on the main deck when Kylo hollered from the cockpit, "Rey, get down here! We've got a situation."

Rey ran across the deck and skidded through the cockpit doorway. "Trouble?" she asks.

"Big time." replies Kylo, pointing out the cockpit window. In front of the Falcon was an armed light freighter, guns trained on them. Kylo had killed their forward momentum and waited for the freighter to make a move.

The control board signaled a communications coming from the freighter. "Do we answer that?" asked Rey. "We can't run with those guns on us." said Kylo as he initiated communications.

Static filled the cockpit, along with a voice that Rey found very familiar. "This Bala-Tik, leader of Guavian Death Gang. We have our guns trained on you, Solo. If you try to move we will blow holes in your flying junk heap and take your cargo after you've died."

"Let me talk, Kylo." says Rey as she toggles a switch on the board. "Bala-Tik, this is Rey Skywalker. I can assure you that Han Solo is not on this ship. I personally saw him perish on the First Order's Starkiller base over a year ago."

"I'm not interested in Han Solo." Bala-Tik's voice had an edge of derision as he replied. "I know he's dead. I want Ben Solo. Rakka the Hut is willing to pay a handsome sum for him. As long as he's alive it doesn't matter if he's damaged a bit."

"Could you give me a little time to consult with my colleague?" Rey asked, stalling for time."

"I will give you 5 minutes." said Bala-Tik graciously. Or as graciously as a professional criminal could be.

"What now Kylo?" asked Rey. "Are there any advance Force moves you can use on them?"

"What do you know about the freighter they're in?" asked Kylo thoughtfully.

"It's a Type C medium sized cargo freighter. Pretty common throughout the galaxy. I've reviewed the schematics in the past."

"Good. I want you to go down to one of the gunnery positions. Do you think you can reach out in the Force and find the circuitry for their weapons?"

She thought a few minutes. "Yes. I believe I can."

"Excellent. I'll respond to Bala-Tik while you fry the wiring to their weapons. When they are shut down you can shoot to disable their engines and I'll get us out of here."

"That might work." said Rey as she left the cockpit for the gunnery.

Kylo waited a few minutes and then signaled Bala-Tik that they were ready to respond."

"This is Ben Solo." he said. "I believe Master Skywalker and I will refuse your offer and resume our trip schedule."

"You're under our guns Solo. Rakka wants you alive but he's willing to accept dead. The sarlacc won't care either way."

{{How are you doing?}} [[Almost got it. Give me another couple of minutes.]] {{I'll try.}}

"Really Bala, do you think you could actually capture two Force users? Did you see what we did at Desilijic Complex?"

"Aye I did. Force or no Force I still have you under my guns. I think I'll keep the girl instead of giving her to Rakka. She'll make a fine pleasure slave. And when we're done with her I'll give her to Kanjiklub. Maybe they will count her against your father's debt."

[[Got it. I'm really, really pissed now.]] {{Just the guns, Rey. Leave life support alone.}}

[[Spoilsport. Frying the circuits … now.]]

As the circuits fry Rey grabs the gunnery controls and focuses on the freighter's engines with the Force. Several pinpoint hits later it's disabled and floating helpless while Kylo dodges the Falcon around the freighter and heads for the Corellian Trade Spine.

Rey enters the cockpit, still fuming. "Pleasure slave! Not now, not ever. They're lucky I only disabled their guns and engines."

"When Bala-Tik hailed us you looked like you recognized his voice. When did you have a run in with the Guavian Death Gang?"

"It's kind of a long story." answered Rey. "When Finn and I escaped from Jakku in the Millennium Falcon your father's tractor beamed us into the heavy freighter he and Chewy were running. And then the Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub (which still sounds like a rave club and not a criminal gang) came on board and told Han he owed them money. And they were going to kill Han so we tried to lower the blast door to protect him and accidentally opened the ones where the rathtars were held and they started eating people and …" Rey stopped for a breath and Kylo put up his hand. "I think I can finish the story for you. That sounds exactly like most of my father's schemes."

He stood up and stretched his long, lanky frame. "We're almost to the Corellian Trade Spine. I'll get us into the hyperspace lane and then we can relax for a while." He got a mischievous look on his face. "Say Rey, do you still have that pleasure slave costume from Mos Eisley?"

And then he ducked.