Fragments in itallics are used to dive into specific characters' heads throughout the narrative.

Chapter 27: "The Throne of the Sith"

Years ago, Luke had tracked down the Throne of the Sith, in Exegol, and flown with a small fleet of voluntary Rebel soldiers. After a series of religious crimes across the galaxy committed by a legion called the 'Knights of Ren', Luke had taken days off of the training of his students, of which there were now a total of twelve, and discovered their location. This was an important mission for him; after all, since the fall of the Empire, he'd been trying to keep fighting for the Old Jedi Order's legacy, and everything pointed to this legion being the legacy of the Sith. Ideally, he would've wanted to strike with his own students backing him up, but he felt they weren't ready.

In Yavin-4, however, the young Jedi apprentices had a few days off to relax, but Ben Solo was no ordinary Jedi apprentice. At this point, he'd been training under Luke's arm for about five years, and there was very little left of the initial sympathy he felt for Luke, which had allowed him to forgive the somewhat odd and preoccupying Jedi teachings. Now, his uncle was simply another man who didn't really care about him personally, and more importantly, he was the product of a failed system. Since the moment that Luke told Ben he would be leaving, Ben told his only friend in the galaxy that this would be a chance to see him, and this was finally the day in which the long-anticipated meeting would take place. Ben and Snoke had planned to meet inside one cave far away from the area where training usually took place, and Ben was just arriving. There was already a fireplace lit inside. Ben saw it and found it curious.

Snoke?

"I'm here," the familiar voice said, this time not coming from the inside of Ben's head. In fact, it's unclear where it came from. He's hidden in the shadows, "I must remind you. I'm not too pleasurable to look at".

"It's okay," Ben responded, "Please, I want to meet you. You're my best friend".

Snoke walked out of the shadows deeper into the cave. He wore black clothing and pulled his head out of a hood. His face wasn't injured, but it was big and wrinkled.

"You're tall," Ben said, "I hope one day I'm tall as well".

"So I've been told," Snoke responded, "Even among my people, I was tall".

The two sat beside the fireplace and talked for hours. Snoke did not lie to him, but he also didn't say everything. He didn't, for example, say that he was essentially trying to bring back the Empire, but he did talk about his exploration across the galaxy, discovering things about the history of the Force, the Jedi and the Sith, and how he had come to become extremely powerful. He talked a lot about Ben's possibilities; that he could be as powerful as Snoke, if not more so, but that it was ultimately his choice and no one else's.

"I can't tell you which path to take, Ben," Snoke said, "You can decide whether you want to follow an old and failed doctrine or to allow yourself to be your own person, to embrace your power and carve your own path".

Oddly enough, in a way, years later, Ben would still be in these crossroads of fate, but at this point, it seemed like a fairly simple choice.

"I know the truth," Ben said, "The Jedi are not good. They never were. My uncle will keep trying to… adoctrine? What's the word?".

"Indoctrinate you?" Snoke asked.

"Exactly," Ben responded, "He will keep trying to turn me into his little soldier, but I don't have to follow him forever. I can make my own path after I leave here".

"I'm very proud of you," Snoke said, smiling at the young boy, and resting his arm on his back, patting the young Jedi. Ben leaned over and rested on Snoke's arm. He felt like he could genuinely trust this man. He was the only one who understood him. He was the only one who even tried to understand him, Ben felt.

"I don't remember ever feeling this happy," Ben confessed, "I am so grateful to have you and to be your friend".

"Want to take a look at the impossible things you would be able to do if you embraced your power?" Snoke asked, dismissing Ben's emotional confession.

"Yeah," Ben responded, "Show me".

Snoke stood up and gave Ben a blaster. Then, he walked back a few steps and turned around.

"Fire at me," Snoke said, "Don't even count down, just do it".

"What? Why?" Ben asked, "Is this a trust test or something? Is the blaster dysfunctional?".

"I don't need a trust test," Snoke said, "We can trust each other, I already know. Just shoot. You trust me, right?". Ben didn't want to risk losing Snoke's friendship, so he reluctantly aimed the gun at his back and fired, trusting that his power would save him.

"Fire," Snoke said, "Do it".

Ben closed his eyes and fired the blaster. He opened his right eye slightly and saw his friend still standing, but the back of his face was lit by the red blast suspended in the air, still vibrating. The blast had stopped mid-air. Ben opened his eyes and was still shocked, but thankful that his friend was alive.

"Surprised?" Snoke asked.

"How are you doing this?" Ben asked in return.

"I'm not doing this, Ben" Snoke responded, "You are," then, he moved out of the way and the blast hit the wall.

Was I doing it? I just felt the tension.

"Your instincts are more powerful than even you realize," Snoke said, "But, again, you have been made to doubt yourself".

Ben gazed at his hands, marveled.

"I want to learn the ways of the Force," he said, "Really learn them. My life's already been decided to be following that path. At the very least, I'd like to follow it for real. Not just listening to some old man's useless teachings".

"Well…" Snoke said, looking away from Ben, as if he felt shame, "I was hoping you would realize it on your own," he lied, clearing himself from agency or guilt, "But… I've already trained some men… They are known as the Knights of Ren…".

Ben was left speechless, unsure of what to respond. Weren't they the enemy?

"But they're the bad guys!" Ben said, flexing his fingers uncontrollably.

"According to whom?" Snoke asked, "According to the man who can't even think of you as a person with feelings and ambitions of your own? The man who makes you feel awful for having emotions? Do you trust his judgment?".

"What about their terrible crimes?" Ben asked, "Do they not exist?".

"I can't believe you're not willing to talk like a real person," Snoke said, "What an incredible waste of time this has proven to be".

What? What's going o-

"I thought you, of all people, would know to ask and not just make assumptions," Snoke said, taking a few steps back, "I thought you knew what it was like to be misunderstood". He waved his hand and turned off the fire illuminating them.

"No, wait," Ben yelled, "Snoke!". He ran toward the corner where Snoke stood a moment ago, but it was empty.

He's gone. No. No. No. This can't be. No. No. You're alone again. You imbecile. Can't you do anything right? What is wrong with you?

Ben continued to look for Snoke in the cave, growing more and more desperate.

Come on, where are you? Where are you?

You stupid, useless kid! You ruined the only good thing you ever had! Nothing matters anymore!

Ben threw a chaotic tantrum against the wall beside him, and then almost involuntarily used the Force to peel off a layer of rock off of another wall.

"Please come back!" Ben yelled, "Don't leave me! I have no one!".

Ben suddenly tripped on a rock and fell all the way down to a cave within the cave. His arms and knees were damaged, and he couldn't keep in his tears. He wrestled against rocks around him, as if they were attacking him. He cried, feeling lonelier than ever. He couldn't count on his family. That he already knew. But now he couldn't count on Snoke either.

I did this… what is wrong with me? I'm useless… I… I need help…

"Help me!" he yelled.

I don't want to live in this world anymore. I feel so small and meaningless. I hate this. I hate this so much. I want to explode.

His cries for help continued to be in vain. Of course, no one could hear him inside the cave, but he had remembered Luke talking about how Jedi are present even when they seem to be absent. It was even possible for them to manifest if they'd already died. They could come back from the world beyond worlds, as Luke called it.

"Help me!" he screamed, "I'm begging you… please be with me!".

But no one responded. The Jedi had always failed him, and they failed him again.

"Ben?" a somewhat robotic voice echoed inside his head.

"Who?" Ben asked.

"Ben…" the voice said, "I heard your cries for help… I'm here".

"Who are you?" Ben insisted.

"You've heard many different names," the voice said, "I'm your grandfather".

"My g-" Ben said, "Grandfather?".

"I used to be called Anakin Skywalker," the voice said, "But when I finally let go of everything that held me back, I was known as Darth Vader".

Ben's heart skipped a beat. He had heard of Vader. As a kid, all he knew was that he was some kind of warrior for the Empire who'd been dead for a few years, but under Luke, Ben had learned that Vader had been a Jedi of the Old order, who was seduced by the dark side of the Force, and then brought back to the light by Luke himself, and that, just minutes after this happened, Vader had passed away, after his last act was to help Luke defeat the Emperor. And this was his grandfather?

They hid that from me? Why? I don't understand.

"Because they don't want you to know the truth," the voice answered, "That it was the Jedi who made the real mistakes. That I had simply realized their mistakes and decided to turn against them. You can see their errors now as well, but they want you to stay on this old, regressive path, as opposed to letting you be whoever you want to be".

"But…" Ben said, "I still don't get this… why would they lie?".

"Because they think you will follow my footsteps," the voice said, "Remember when you eavesdropped on your parents talking to Luke all those years ago? They said you had Vader in you. They were afraid of you following my path as you were. They all lie".

"They're all wrong…" Ben said, "They're just trying to keep the world as they have it… lying and repressing and… abandoning me…".

"Don't let them get into your head, Ben," the voice said, "Think for yourself, and remember, if the choice goes against what they teach you, it may just be the right choice".

"Yes, grandfather," Ben said, with tears coming out of his eyes, "And… I have to ask you… should I follow the dark side?".

"You're younger than I was when I realized I wanted to," the voice responded, "The only think I can tell you is to become who you're meant to be, whomever that may be".

Ben shed another tear, but this time of relief. He knew what he had to do. Quickly, he got back on his feet and climbed back up, then running to the nearest exit from the cave and yelling into the skies.

"Snoke, please, please, please take me back! I will give myself to the dark side! I will! I promise!".

"I'm here boy," the voice said, "I'm with you".

"I want to embrace my fate," Ben said, "I'm done with this life. My parents threw my away like garbage to train with an ignorant, emotionally distant man, so that I'd fit into their dumb idea of the world and not achieve my true power. I don't trust or care about any of them. I know what I have to do now".

Years later, in Neast, Ben would try to go to sleep after what seemed to be arguing with himself in front of a mirror. A part of his mind kept echoing discouragement.

You don't deserve to live.

Yes, I do. I'm not a monster.

Then, Ben apparently wakes up on the bottom of a dark pit that seems to have an infinite way up. There are red lights coming from everywhere, but with no real source. There seem to be trees, and snow, though it all looks hot. And then, Snoke. He's bigger than he was in the holograms he used back in Starkiller Base. His eyes shine red as well, and he crushes the ground with his steps as he slowly and seemingly endlessly approaches Ben. Ben sees his lightsaber buried in the snow and pulls it toward himself, and it flies out into the hands of Rey. In the distance, he hears many familiar voices.

"See you around, kid," his uncle's voice echoes repeatedly. Kylo Ren's helmet materializes on Ben's head. Rey ignites the saber, in white as opposed to red light, and slashes it as she approaches Ben intimidatingly.

"No," he says, defenseless, walking backwards to avoid her attacks.

"You're a monster," he hears Rey and Snoke's voices echo in the distance, "You've always been a monster".

"No!" he yells, helplessly. Snoke fires lightning at Rey, who blocks it somehow. Darth Vader touches Ben's shoulder and hands him his lightsaber.

"The throne of the First Order!" Snoke's voice echoes, "The throne of the Sith!"

The Knights of Ren arrive and fight Rey, who fights them back somehow.

"Help me!" a young Ben Solo's voice echoes far in the distance, "I'm begging you, please be with me!" he yells.

"I see his mind, I see his every intent!" Snoke's voice roars. The Knights manage to beat Rey, leaving her bleeding in the snow. And behind Rey, backed into a corner, are Leia, Han, and Luke.

"We don't want you," Han's voice echoes, without his mouth opening.

"He's a monster in the making," Leia's voice echoes, also without a source.

"It's hopeless," Luke's voice echoes, again not coming from his mouth.

"Let your anger drive you" Snoke's voice orders him, "As it has for years".

And Ben remembers the damage the three people closest to him did when he grew up: sending him away from his parents, forbidding him from feeling, giving up on him, and trying to kill him. He ignites Vader's lightsaber, and the light looks like a furious fire. Vader's breathing is suddenly heard everywhere. He walks toward the four people he hates the most in the whole galaxy, the four people who saw the light in him and had fought to preserve it, even if the way in which they did felt hurtful and was ultimately counterproductive. Why? Why can't he hate them anymore? He feels Han and Leia's pain when they let go of him years earlier. He feels their fear that they may not be good enough to raise a son who gets to be happy and free from threats. He feels the regret they felt every day when remembering they had sent their son away, and the pain they felt every time He feels Luke rejecting the old Jedi way but still teaching it due to not realizing his rejection was valid and meaningful. He feels Luke constantly arguing with Obi Wan's spirit, trying to convince him that the old Jedi way doesn't work. He feels Luke's regret and pain when seeing a young Ben Solo behaving like a Jedi from the old Order, stoic and unmoving. They made bad decisions. They were shortsighted. They weren't trying to hurt him. They were trying to protect him, even if it wasn't the right way to go about it. And they had realized it. Didn't they deserve a second chance? Didn't they deserve compassion and forgiveness? Rey had shown him compassion and forgiveness in spite of his own actions. That was all he needed. All he wanted. And now, he was having a second chance. A normal life. Without a whisper of darkness coming from the outside, without anyone assuming that he was a monster, without anyone telling him that he was wrong for having emotions. The rage that clouded his ability to feel and understand those around him had faded. Leia, Han, and Luke could be forgiven. It was Snoke that wanted to use him and hurt him. It was the Knights of Ren that wanted to use him. It was the memory of what was done to him that kept him in constant pain. But it could change. The cycle could be broken.

The Knights of Ren open the way for Ben to kill his parents, his former teacher, and the woman who had reached out to him when he pushed everyone away. He approaches as Snoke's echoes continue to haunt him.

"They see you as a monster," Ben halts in front of them, "Show them how wrong they are!"

They had been wrong in thinking of him as a monster before he'd chosen a path. But he understood them. And he had been wrong in turning to hate and embracing the resentment he felt. But he understood why it was wrong. He knew all of it now. It was time to end this cycle of pain, and Ben could do it. He was willing to forgive them and save them, and he was willing to change himself. They were worth saving. And so was he. Ben lifts Vader's saber to strike true, and tosses it into the woods. He then grabs his own lightsaber from Rey's hand, igniting it in the brightest and most powerful white light the galaxy has ever seen. The Knights are disintegrated by it. Snoke is blinded and falls to the ground, shrinking in the process. Vader's armor vanishes, revealing Jedi clothing and the face of a scarred, but proud older man. The chaotic echoes and whispers of a twisted past are silenced. Kylo Ren's helmet collapses. Ben holds the triumphant, healed lightsaber up in the air, as it lights up everything around him.

"We will always be with you," he hears, though he's not sure if it was said by Luke or by either of his parents.

The pit's surroundings are burnt away, revealing land, the sky, clouds, mountains, towns and cities, people of all ages and backgrounds…

The light has returned, and with it, the Sun causes Ben to wake up in the village. He feels severe pain in his stomach, and strugglingly hops on to the wheelchair and rolls to the restroom. Burnhar arrives a few minutes later and finds the young man throwing up.

"Oh, man," Burnhar chuckles, "I think you're gonna need clean clothes after this".

Far away, in Coruscant, a meeting took place in a spacious room. There were several chairs and tables surrounding a stage. Some of these spots were occupied by a committee of about two hundred First Order officials, now labelling themselves as public officials for the United Galactic Republic. The remaining spots were taken by the richest people in the galaxy. In total, there were approximately one thousand and five hundred people inside the room. Amidst the conversation, General Hux and Supreme Leader Sidious walk toward the stage. Hux stands nearby, while Sidious becomes the center of attention.

"Welcome, everybody," Ducan says, "I'm glad we were able to get all of you to come. We have big plans in mind".

"What's the Empire up to?" one of the wealthy men asks.

"No, we are the United Galactic Republic now," Ducan clarifies, "And we are in the process of making that believable for the majority of people in the galaxy".

"What's your title?" another wealthy man asks.

"I'm the Supreme Leader," Ducan responds, "But you are my committee. If we want this order to stay in power for as long as possible, we need to truly turn it into a system. Legislative aspects, executive aspects, economic aspects, judicial aspects… these will all be decided in this room with your participation, once every thirty days or in special, emergency occasions. Our new Republic relies on your investments, monetary and otherwise, and so if we want it to continue, your interests are of the utmost importance to us".

"So we don't tell anyone about this, right?" a wealthy man asks.

"You can say these are meetings to settle important matters with the Republic, such as paying off taxes or receiving regulations of some kind," Ducan suggests, "It's not true, but it doesn't matter. As long as we all tell the same story, they'll buy it and… if we give them shallow concessions from time to time, they'll even stand up for us".

"And we will always be protected?" another one of the wealthy asks.

"That is correct," Ducan assures, "Protecting the people in this room and the establishment that they stand for will always be the priority here".

Some time later, Ducan leaves the room, and Hux walks closely behind him. They're on a closed, quiet, almost claustrophobic hallway that leads to the Supreme Leader's office.

"You're confused, wondering about something," Ducan says, "You can ask". Hux takes a deep breath.

"I'm confused by the power dynamics here," he says, "I thought you were the Supreme Leader, but actually I was, but actually only as long as I fit into your ideology, but now it turns out it's them?".

"Hux, those people will rarely make any real, significant demands," Ducan responds, "It's true that we need their investments to keep the Republic going indefinitely. They have no reason to ask for anything that would seriously compromise what we're after".

"How do you know?" Hux asks, stepping forward, ahead of his superior, and then facing him upfront, causing him to stop, "How can you be so sure you're not compromising the ideas you're allegedly pursuing?". Ducan gives a half-smile. His time before becoming the Supreme Leader gave him incredible historical perspective.

"They can't have beliefs that go against ours," Ducan states, like it's an indisputable matter of fact, "Because they have no beliefs. All they want is to retain their power and status, and so do we. Now, let me go through. I feel the Knights may have accomplished their mission finally". Ducan walks past Hux and reaches his office. It's small and humble. There is a large window, framing the city outside, and there is a closet on the opposite wall, next to the entrance. In the exact center of the room, there's a carpet for meditation.

Ducan sits down on the carpet and closes his eyes.

"Yes…" he says, "They found the Throne… they're on Exegol as we speak".

"You've never been to this place?" Hux asks. He walks by the window and looks out at the messy and depressing city.

"I've heard of it," Ducan responds, "But my transportation capacities were limited before joining what was the First Order. The Knights of Ren felt my calling and tracked me down. They themselves, as a legion, originated on Exegol under Snoke".

"So they had been there and still they took almost two months to find it?" Hux asks. The window is very far from the ground. Surely, pushing a normal person off it would end in death. Ducan was surely not a normal person, though. Could Ducan feel what Hux was thinking at this time?

"No, they hadn't been there," Ducan clarifies, "Their predecessors, the previous Knights of Ren, the very first generation, started out there, but Snoke gave up that place after Luke Skywalker found it". He couldn't be immortal, could he? Now that an entire committee and the ground rules had been established, anyone could be the Supreme Leader.

"And what interest do you have in Exegol?" Hux asks. His mind, though, can only think of maneuvers. There's a blaster on his belt, always. Should he shoot at him first and then pull him over? Blast the window first, then blast him, then pull him over? Maybe also blast him as he's falling off? Throw himself out with him? No, he thought, why was that even crossing his mind? He wanted the power for himself, not just to remove him, right?

"It's mostly ceremonial and symbolic," Ducan responds, "The birthplace of the Sith and the Knights of Ren. I'm also thinking it could serve as the home of a temple for a larger legion of Knights. Religion helps regimes like this one stand. The Jedi as a police force while also being religious figures was a big factor behind the Old Republic's longevity. We can learn from history".

Hux had been there in the First Order before Kylo Ren, and almost from the very beginning. With the structuring it now had, taking it over would be easy. But it was a risk. Would an organized coup be more effective? It would make the leadership more vulnerable and debatable. It would also probably be easier to foresee.

"But also, you know," Ducan continues, "They wanted it. They found me but had never been to Exegol. I could find an approximate location of Exegol. It was me showing appreciation and gratitude, as well".

Hux was heavily pushed by his own frustration and anxiety. All his life, he'd been seeking that ultimate power. Snoke died. Kylo Ren died. It was his turn now, wasn't it? And this man had come out of nowhere to usurp the spot Hux was next in line for? The power he wanted was unreachable for him, it seemed. Even if he reached it, there was something about it now that made it feel very fragile. Kylo Ren barely lasted a month and he was very powerful. What did Hux want now? To kill Ducan? Would that even be enough to make him feel fulfilled?

"Supreme Leader," Hux says, "Can you read my mind?".

"I don't do it all the time; it can get boring," Ducan responds, "But I can do it whenever I want".

A cryptic answer. Hux looks out the window one last time, and then turns around and makes his way out.

In Fegwet, Rose discussed plans with Lyn. Finn entered the base and had his eyes locked on her. Swiftly, he approached and asked her, through mere facial expressions, if she could come talk to him. She agreed and walked over to him. Everyone was talking around them, but they only saw and heard each other now.

"Hey, Rose," Finn says, "So, with how things around here have escalated, we've kind of… forgotten about some pending business, haven't we?".

"Pending?" Rose asks, "What's pending about this?".

Finn raises an eyebrow.

"Look, I'm trying to be cool… be suave, you know," he says, "But I don't wanna misread things and I really have no idea if you mean what I hope you mean or if you mean the opposite of what I hope you mean".

"Well, I can't read minds," Rose responds, "What do you hope?".

"Oh, this is some kind of mind game you're playing now," Finn says, "I'm not falling for it".

Though they're arguing, they're using a very noticeably friendly tone, like they both know what the other is about to say.

"Okay, look," Finn says, "This is cool. I can be your boyfriend. You wanna have a boyfriend? We can do boyfriend-girlfriend things, like start a workers' revolution, that'd be cool".

"Alright, silly," Rose chuckles, "I kissed you last time. You're up".

Finn leans in and kisses Rose. Their lips remain bonded for some time. Perhaps there can be love in times of war.

From afar, Poe sees them and brushes it off his mind. Everyone in there is working. Rebels come in and out of the base, some collecting signatures, others simply coming for updates. Poe hasn't piloted a ship in over a month. He's felt a little pointless. He then notices Rey sitting down, brooding on a corner, again, and approaches her.

"Have you taken this as your room?" Poe asks, "I've seen you here all the time the last few days". Rey raises her eyebrows, acknowledging her friend's joke but not laughing with it.

"It's the worst," Rey says, "Or worse than that".

"It's not such a terrible place," Poe adds, continuing to try lighting up the mood, "It… yeah… sorry".

"Wanna share something?" Rey asks.

"Talking about feelings is tough," Poe responds, as he sits down beside her, "Especially when they're recent… you know, they're unprocessed and what not".

"That's why talking about them is helpful," Rey says, "It becomes easier to process them".

"Well, you don't do that yourself, oddly" Poe says, "Any idea why that is?". Rey turns to him and shows fear behind her eyes. Fear of forming a real connection.

Talk. Just once. Just talk. Openly. No filters.

"I think anyone could leave at any time," she says, turning her sight to her own legs, avoiding eye contact, "It seems unlikely that anyone would ever want to stay for too long by my side, and it terrifies me to… get too close to people… because they will leave".

Poe twitches his lips and nods.

"That's rough," he comments, "I really don't know what to tell you".

"I'm introspective enough…" Rey explains, "I've come up with some likely explanations… my parents left, no one really cared back in Jakku, I was terribly alone… it helped me learn how to defend myself, but I guess I take it too far and end up pushing people away".

"Well," Poe responds, "It's great that you have an idea of where it came from".

Rey simply nods. The two remain quiet for a moment.

Come on, try him now. It's clear he's about to blow up any second.

"What was your life like, growing up?" Rey asks.

"Parents killed by the First Order, I think you might've known that already…" Poe reminisces, "I was alone, orphaned, homeless, with no money… could've died of hunger or disease. Or both. I tried to have some honest work but I was just a kid, and the pay was… awful… I was completely trapped".

"That's where you turned to spice-running?" Rey asks, remembering a story she once overheard.

"Right," Poe continues, "And it provided. I ate. I could pay medics if I had health issues, I had a home… it's interesting, sometimes people take that for granted, but having a roof over your head and walls surrounding you is just the best. I had contemplated working at a slave camp nearby, if it kept me alive and fed… but I got this opportunity, and it worked… at least for some time…".

"And you got out of it?" Rey asks.

"When I joined the Resistance, yeah," Poe recalls, "And it was amazing… people who knew how to cook, cooked for all of us. People who knew basic medicine, helped treat us all. We all had a place to sleep, too, and some basic education for those of us who didn't get much of it growing up… people did these things because they were in a community, and they knew that all they had was each other… if I'd grown up in such an environment, who knows where I would be right now? I guess I… I just don't trust the system… I know things won't change, and I won't ever be accepted, no matter what we do. It's broken beyond repair".

I really don't know what to say. Things are shaping up to become very much like the times of the Empire again. Ben is gone. Luke Skywalker is gone. We're alone. Perhaps it is broken.

"I get it…" Rey says, patting his friend on the back, "I don't know how we can do this. Even if we manage to take down the First Order… I really don't know what the plan is to make sure it doesn't come back in one way or another".

"All right, everybody," Lyn screams, "Listen up!". Everyone interrupts their activities and distractions and turns to her. She stands on top of the central table.

"I have talked with General Leia about our progress and strategy. So far, there are two hundred and thirty one of us on this planet, plus fifty seven rebellious Stormtroopers. That's two hundred and eighty eight people who are eager to fight for our freedom, but we need this to become much larger, we need to be everywhere. Fifty of us, with the help of twenty Stormtroopers, will be assigned to go to Galaso, another mining planet where nearly everyone is poor and oppressed. They will let them know of our strategy and radicalize them as much as possible, as well as turn as many Stormtroopers to our side as they can".

Sounds good so far. We're moving forward.

"General Leia, along with many other non-local Rebels, will travel to a much more heterogeneous system, Cloon. Mining in that system is minimal, but construction isn't. That system has many assembling facilities. It's not as overtly oppressive as we assume most mining planets are, but it's there. We need you to go there and start the movement on that front. It'll be tough. But we believe in you".

I'm sure Rose and Finn will achieve this; they know how to get people angry and excited to fight.

"We thank you all, as always, for joining this risky movement. I promise you, one day we will have our freedom! Long live the Rebellion!".

Everyone present echoes that last chant.

Lyn steps off the table and gestures Rey and Poe to walk over to her. The two stand up and rush to meet on the hallway to the caging area, where Finn, Rose, Chewbacca, BB-8, R2-D2, and General Leia also await.

"What's going on?" Rey asks.

"Well, if we want you guys to leave, we need to be cautious," Lyn explains, "The Falcon is parked and we have the ship General Leia used, but they can detect ships flying in and out. We're essentially in a blockade".

"Well, but not exactly, though, right?" Finn asks, "We can go. Maybe we'll get shot at but we can surely do it".

"But consider how it will affect us," Lyn responds.

"Hey wait," Rey adds, "We came in the Falcon, stayed there resting a few hours, walked out and were surrounded by the First Order. Who's to say the ship is still even there?".

"Cade and I were going to visit it a few weeks ago," Finn recalls, "to retrieve his Stormtrooper armory, but we ultimately didn't go. I haven't seen it either".

"Right," Poe says, "It's a Rebel ship. It practically begs them to destroy it".

"It's the Rebel ship," Rose adds, "As far as they know".

Chewbacca growls.

"I mean," Poe responds to him, "we obviously hope it's still in one piece"

"So what do we do?" Rose asks.

They all remain quiet for a few seconds. Then, Poe's eyes light up.

"So we have Stormtrooper armors," he says, "Let's use them and go check!".

"Right, that makes sense," Rose adds, "And if we can, we get in and leave in that exact moment".

"All five of us wear Stormtrooper armors, alongside some ten actual deserter troopers," Poe plots, his eyes lost in envisioning the scenario, "Chewie, Threepio, Artoo and BB-8 await nearby. If it's safe, they get in the Falcon and the seven of us leave. If there's trouble, we create a distraction until they're free to get in, and we fly off. We tell troopers on our side to act like they're trying to stop us as well, so they don't get in trouble".

"So we're not Rebels escaping," Rey says, "we're Stormtroopers deserting".

"Exactly," Poe concludes, "We escape with no repercussions".

"Man, you're brilliant," Finn says, shaking his head in pride and awe, "Just the best".

"Thanks, Finn," Poe responds, "I think we have a solid chance".

Halfway across the galaxy, two hands lay on parallel bars. The arms holding these hands shake, but the man that owns them is able to stand. His feet touch the ground, and, though it's hard at first, he's able to maintain some equilibrium. Beside him, Burnhar sits down on a chair, smiling at the sight of the young, beaten man fighting to get back on his feet. And, standing behind the wheelchair, the tall Duni also watches Ben's efforts.

"You're doing really well, Ben," Burnhar says, "I almost feel like I'm doing too little, just sitting here".

"Y-ou-ve…" Ben starts to respond.

"All right," Duni adds, "you might wanna wait a little before walking and talking at the same time".

Ben takes another step.

"This is exciting," Burnhar says, "Maybe I'll finally get you to clean your room".

Ben makes a sound that resembles a laugh, but he's exhaling so much that Burnhar isn't sure if it is.

"Hey, by the way, I just remembered," Burnhar tells Ben, "Tomorrow I have to go fish. The house will be yours again, for about a day". Ben breaks his pace and simply rests on his hands and feet, restoring his breath. He turns to Burnhar.

I should try to get to know the rest of the village. The ones I've met so far have enlightened me.

"Do you… think I could have some company?" Ben asks.

Burnhar involuntarily smiles.

I'm scared and nervous now. What if he says yes? And I'll have to be with all of these people and be in danger of blowing up suddenly?

"That's uh…" he says, "Sure… you got anyone in mind?".

I can still walk away from it…

But…

No, I…

I know it's right. And these are good people.

"Well," Ben responds, "Whoever's free".

"Well, sure, we'll bring in a table tonight, have people over for the cooking session," Burnhar says, "You'll help with something, I imagine".

"Of course," Ben responds. His stomach churns, but he knows it's good. He knows he's on the right path now.