Leading Ben Solo across the Exegol Resistance base's runways and landing spots, Anakin and Luke Skywalker began to converse with him. The halo of blue that hovered around their somewhat transparent bodies was signature of Force Ghosts. No one else knew they were there, though. Just Ben.

"Why, Grandfather?" Ben started as they strolled together. "Why did you wait until now to confront me?"

"Ben, you never would have trusted me," Anakin answered. His long, gray locks blew in the cool wind. "You idolized the version of myself that I never was. Darth Vader was a fraud, a personification of everything I feared. He was weak, just like Kylo Ren. If I interfered to save you like I did with my wife, your grandmother, it would have been against the will of the Force."

Ben looked down. A wave of sadness overcame him. "But, Luke? You never even tried. I was so broken by what happened. You abandoned me!" he exclaimed. A few bystanders glanced his way and frowned. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Just like everyone else."

"I was wrong," Luke replied. "I was afraid, just like you. I never should have brought you to the Temple. You didn't ever want to be a Jedi, and I loved you, my sister's only child, for that. You didn't want the past to define you. You wanted to be your own person."

"Yes, exactly!" Ben replied. "Then, why? Why? Why did you leave me?!" His anger boiled. His fists clenched.

"Because I was too ashamed and too scared to confront you and bring you home," Luke replied. "Ben, listen to me." Ben wiped his nose. He sniffled. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I failed you. You were like a son to me, and I failed you."

When the words slipped into Ben's ears, he looked up. The tension loosened from his face. "Luke, I . . ."

"I wasn't there to rescue you when you needed me most," Luke cut in. "I wasn't there for you." He paused. "But now you do have someone."

"Rey," Ben responded, staring into space.

"She is strong with the Force, and she will need you to complete her journey," he replied. "I was too blinded by Sidious to see the connection between you. But my failure has taught me. My journey is over, but yours is just beginning."

Sighing in a decade-long, pent-up relief, Ben glanced at Anakin, who had not said a word. "Unlike my son here, I knew what the Force desired," Anakin stated. "What it sets into motion, no man, no Sith, no Jedi can stop. It knows all, decides all, is all."

"So, you knew Rey would redeem me," Ben replied, shocked.

Anakin nodded. "I counted on it."

"But what does she really see in me?" Ben responded. "I killed Dad."

"Yes," Luke said. "But the Force does not judge people by their worst actions, but by their greatest. The Sith of eons past, like Malgus, Sion, Plagueis, and Malak, or the legendary Emperor Vitiate, died as wounds in the great Cosmic Force. Their essence has been exterminated just like an ant. You see, the Sith were petrified of death, and did everything in their power to avoid it, while a Jedi welcomes the end."

"Despite everything I did, I am here now to lead you," Anakin added. "My love for my son ended the Sith. By that one good deed, I was given a chance to enter the Netherworld. You, too, were given that same chance because of your one good choice. A choice made out of love. The Force had its way with you just like it had its way with me. We were both chosen to save the ones we love."

"Yes . . ." Ben muttered, nodding his head in understanding.

"That was my failure," Luke said. "I was blinded by that fact that only one who can see both sides can hope to keep balance in the galaxy."

"But I've made so many mistakes," Ben replied. "I've terrorized and killed so many innocent people."

"Which is exactly why the Force chose you," Luke replied. "Because you, like Revan long ago, know the evil of the darkness, but you also know the power of love, and of light. Of the Force. It is you, Ben, who will become the galaxy's new legend."

"But do not think the Dark Side will never tempt you again," Anakin warned. "It will. You just need to be ready for it." Suddenly, his body began to dim. "Soon, another will show you the path that we could not. You must listen to him."

"Who?" Ben replied.

"You will discover that when he arrives," Anakin said. He smiled lovingly. "But remember, Ben, we will always be with you."

"I will finish what you started, Grandfather," Ben replied.

"The Force will be with you both," Luke added. "Always." He paused, smiling at Ben. "I love you, Ben. I always will." Along with Anakin, Luke too vanished, joining his father in the Netherworld of the Force. Their souls flowed into the breeze, and the young Solo was left alone.

Ben looked down, deep in thought. His emotions swirled about like a whirlwind. He wiped a tear from his eye. "I failed you in life. I won't fail you now, Uncle."

REY — MILLENIUM FALCON

Minutes before the Exegol Resistance Sub-Fleet was about to take off, Rey stormed through the Falcon's corridors, almost bumping into conversing officers. She jogged to the hatch door, which was still down. Where was that idiot Solo when you needed him?

Right on time, Ben walked up the incline into the ship. Rey jumped, not expecting him to be there. "Ben! Where were you? We're leaving." Something was different about him. His face, his countenance, shined like a star. He was glowing. "What happened to you down there?"

Not saying a word, Ben smiled, his dimples evident. He stood in front of her, bringing her into an embrace. He was warm — like a big teddy bear. She was too, just smaller. Like a pillow.

The Force Bond sprang into action, magnetizing their spirits together, causing both to jerk slightly as if electrified. Ben clung tighter. Once again, they felt that indescribable, awesome oneness. That feeling that when they were together, nothing else mattered, and everything made sense. The Dyad in the Force.

Remembering how many nights she cried herself to sleep, wishing for even an iota of this beautiful conglomerate of emotions, Rey gripped his back mercilessly. Unfortunately, after only a few seconds, he pulled away.

"What . . . what was that for?" Rey asked. Her stomach fluttered. She awkwardly leaned his direction, as if still attracted. She was being reduced to a magnet, for Pete's sake.

"For just being," he whispered. Without warning, he kissed the top of her head friendly yet affectionately and held it for a moment, then strode away, shaking hands with random soldiers down the hallway. Her cheeks flushed dazzlingly. In a wonderful stupor at his unforeseen move, she followed at a distance, watching his every gesture.