Rey had hoped more had changed. They had followed the signal from the binary beacon and found the Resistance in a situation far too familiar to Rey. The Supremacy was waiting for the Raddus – the cruiser that was likely carrying the surviving Resistance members – to run out of fuel. The First Order had the advantage.

She didn't want to relive the past.

The Force wouldn't have brought us back if we couldn't change things, Rey thought. Ben and I have already changed the past. Han is alive. We warned the Resistance that the First Order could track them though hyperspace – maybe they have a better plan?

She hoped the Resistance had an advantage she couldn't see – that Finn and Rose had more success – that Leia hadn't been injured.

Rey had to remind herself of the positive changes.

Luke is with us.

She tried to calm herself by taking deep breaths.

It didn't help. Too many things hadn't changed. Even her clothes were the same. Nothing else on the Falcon was suitable for Ben's plan, so she wore the same dark grey tunic she wore the first time she went to the Supremacy. Like many of her outfits, her tunic was draped with loose fabric – also grey – and her arms were wrapped. The only change she made was putting her hair up into her customary three bun style. It was a small change, but at least it was a change.

Ben had smiled when he saw what she had changed into.

She had glared at him, and he had defended himself by telling her she looked good.

It was difficult to stay mad at him when they were about to take a massive risk.

Rey's muscles were tense. She remembered the first time she arrived at the Supremacy, launching herself off the Falcon in an escape pod, hoping to turn Kylo Ren back to the Light.

This time was different. Ben was by her side and she had so much more to lose.

Memories of events that she refused to let happen again flashed before her eyes: her disappointment when he brought her to Snoke, the terror of watching the Resistance be destroyed, the pain from Snoke's torture, and worst of all, the temptation when he asked her to join him.

Ben nudged her arm with his. "You don't need to worry."

"Your plan is horrible," Rey said, leaning back into her seat. They were sitting together at the game table in the Falcon's main hold. The knot in her stomach grew.

"I didn't come up with the plan on my own," Ben said, raising his hands defensively.

"That's what worries me," she admitted. "Nothing good can come from you and Luke agreeing on anything." It didn't help that Ben was also wearing a familiar outfit. The black clothes that had once been such a big part of her impression of him no longer seemed to suit him. Dressed as Kylo Ren – wearing the same cowl, tunic, gloves, and belt from Starkiller Base – he looked uneasy.

At least the mask was gone.

"Nobody is expecting us." Ben took her hand. "Once the First Order realizes what's happening, it'll be too late."

She wished she shared his confidence.

...

Rey and Ben joined the others in the cockpit.

She was surprised that Luke hadn't gone off on his own. He was sitting behind Chewie, as far away from Han as he could get. Han's anger towards him hadn't cooled, and it was uncomfortable to be in the same room as the two of them.

Han stood up. "Are you ready for this?" he asked Ben.

Ben raised his eyebrows. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Han walked towards Ben. "You haven't been away from the First Order for that long" – Rey sat in the empty passenger's seat to give Han room to walk past her – "but a lot has changed."

"It has," Ben agreed.

Han placed his hand on Ben's shoulder and leaned forward. "You've changed and they're going to notice."

Ben shook his head. "That won't matter. By the time they notice, we'll have already won."

"I hope you're right," Han said, sighing. He took his hand off Ben's shoulder. The two of them had come a long way, but neither knew how to act around the other yet. Han was too hesitant, too agreeable. It was like he was afraid any conflict would destroy their fragile peace.

"Han," Luke said, drawing attention to himself, "it's our best chance."

Han narrowed his eyes. "I don't trust your judgement."

Rey looked around the room. Chewie looked like he was ready to back up whatever Han said, and Ben looked like he was waiting for a fight to break out.

They didn't have time for this. "Han isn't the only one with doubts," Rey said.

Chewie growled his agreement.

"We have two options," Ben said. "We stick to the plan or we abandon the Resistance."

Rey hated that he was right.

"I know." Han pinched the bridge of his nose. "But I don't want to lose you again."

"I won't be alone," Ben said, looking at Rey.

Luke stood up. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep Ben and Rey safe." He stepped towards Han, and Han stepped away from him, causing Luke to look away.

"You better," Han said so quietly that Rey almost missed his words. From the way Luke flinched, she knew that he heard Han too. She didn't think Han would forgive Luke, and she wondered if Luke had come to that same realization.

...

Chewie gave Rey the thick metallic binders he had found in one of the hidden storage compartments. They had pulse lock points that welded the clasps tight. They looked strong enough to hold a Jedi.

Luke handed his lightsaber to Rey.

She attached his lightsaber to her belt. Rey had heard stories that praised Luke's skill with a lightsaber, but she hadn't seen him use one. She hoped he wasn't too out of shape.

Luke held out his hands.

Rey put the binders on him. "Are they too tight?" she asked.

"No." Luke shook his head. "This has to look realistic."

It looked realistic to Rey. The dark circles under Luke's eyes and the way he hunched his shoulders made him look defeated. She wondered how much of it was an act.

"Here," Rey said, moving to pass the electronic release mechanism to Ben, but he shook his head.

"Keep it," Ben said.

Rey's pinched her brows together. "Won't they expect you to have it?"

"Too suspicious," Ben explained. "It's better if they don't know we have one."

"And if they find it on me?" Rey asked.

"They won't," Ben said, sounding more certain than Rey thought their circumstances justified. "I won't let them search you."

Rey sighed and put it in her pocket. "You should have the lightsaber." She removed Luke's lightsaber from her belt and held it out for Ben to take.

Ben took the lightsaber and stared at it. A troubled look passed over his face, and Rey remembered Ben's history with Luke's lightsaber. It was central to a moment that changed the course of his life, and she knew that the memory of its green glow haunted his dreams. He attached it to his belt next to his mother's lightsaber.

"Will they notice you have a different lightsaber?" Han asked.

Rey hadn't thought of that. Did the First Order find the red crossguard blade he threw away?

"They might," Ben said, "but they'll likely be too afraid to ask."

Han raised his eyebrows. "Everyone?"

"Almost everyone."

"What if–"

"Dad," Ben said, cutting him off, "I'll figure it out, and if we're lucky, Hux will be there when we land."

"How would that be lucky?" Rey asked. Hux was ruthless and power hungry. The only reason he spied for the Resistance was because he hated Kylo Ren. She knew he would sabotage Ben at the first opportunity.

Ben shrugged. "He hates me so much that he'll be too distracted to notice."

Rey hoped he was right.

...

They hailed the First Order ship.

"Identify yourself," a man demanded.

"This is Kylo Ren," Ben said in a low and dangerous voice. It was a voice that sent chills down her spine the first time she heard it. "I have an important prisoner."

"Kylo Ren is dead."

Rey's heart sank. This wasn't going to work.

Trust me, Ben projected.

Rey nooded.

He shared his identity code. The only outward sign of his tension was the tightness in his jaw. He wasn't as collected as he was pretending to be.

Rey wanted to tell him that he didn't have to hide worries, not from her, but this wasn't the right time.

There was a long pause. "Confirmed." The man's voice trembled as he told them where to land.

Rey let out a breath.

Ben turned off the comm and faced Han and Chewie. "Time for you both to hide."

"Be careful," Han said.

Ben gave him a small smile. "It'll be fine."

Han snorted. "I meant with my ship."

"We'll treat her well," Rey said, appreciating Han's attempt to lighten the mood.

"We couldn't do any more damage to the Falcon than you have over the years," Ben said.

Chewie laughed, and Han glared at him.

Han and Chewie had their own part to play in the plan, one that Rey had helped to shape. She knew how they could help the Resistance while the rest of them faced Snoke.

...

Their landing was smooth.

Ben took her hand. "Whatever I have to say, know that it's not real, that I–"

"I know," Rey said, giving his hand a squeeze.

"I won't turn against–"

"I don't like this plan, but I trust you."

Ben closed his eyes.

Rey didn't like the way he had curled in on himself. She brought her hand to his face and cupped his cheek. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Ben opened his eyes. "And I don't want you to get hurt."

"We'll have to keep each other safe."

The last time she was on the Supremacy Ben killed Snoke and they took out the Praetorian Guards together. With Luke's help and the element of surprise, they had better odds.

She bit her lip. Better odds didn't mean that they would succeed.

...

Rey walked down the Falcon's ramp at Ben's side. Luke was being dragged by Ben.

She took in the sight of the Supremacy's hangar, which was filled with ships. There was a surprising amount of silence in what she expected to be a busy space.

They were met by a squadron of Stomtroopers.

"Is this the prisoner?" a Stormtrooper at the front asked.

Rey didn't miss the fact that they all had their weapons ready to fire.

"Yes," Ben confirmed, his voice steady. "I will bring him to the Supreme Leader."

"What is the meaning of this?" a familiar voice cried out.

Rey looked up and saw Hux striding towards them, accompanied by even more Stormtroopers.

"Hux," Ben said, "perfect timing." Even without the mask, he was an imposing figure. He held himself with confidence, and the black hood hid his expressive face behind shadows.

"It's General Hux," he said, his face reddening. "Perfect timing for what?"

"To escort us to the Supreme Leader." Ben sounded bored.

Hux looked at Rey and Luke and then back at Ben. "And who is us?"

"Luke Skywarker is my prisoner," Ben said, tugging on Luke's arm so hard that Luke grunted from pain.

Hux's face stayed stony except for the slight twitch of his eye, which was the only outward sign of his irritation. "I see." He looked at Rey. "And the girl?"

"A powerful Force user."

Hux stared at her in a way that made her uncomfortable. "Is this the scavenger?" he asked, his eyes widening. "The one who escaped?"

"You're wasting time," Ben snapped. "The Supreme Leader won't be pleased."

Hux gave Rey a calculating look. "Fine," he said in a clipped voice. "You owe the Supreme Leader an explanation."

"And he will get it."

...

Rey had been too intimidated last time to take in the sight of the throne room, and that's because the space was designed to be intimidating with its high ceiling and bright red backdrop. There was so much red.

Snoke was sitting on his throne, wearing an ornate gold robe. He didn't look like someone who was ready for a fight, which was another intimidation tactic. His missing apprentice returned with Luke Skywalker and he didn't give off even a hint of surprise.

He wanted to be seen as powerful all-knowing.

So why does he need the Praetorian Guard? Rey wondered.

"Supreme Leader," Hux said, kneeling before Snoke with his head bowed. "I have brought Kylo Ren, his prisoner Luke Skywalker, and the scavenger girl from Jakku."

"Leave us," Snoke ordered Hux.

"But–"

Snoke threw Hux across the room with the Force.

Rey's eyes widened. This was how Snoke treated people who were loyal to him. How was he going to treat Ben?

Hux stood up carefully. It looked like his leg was injured. "Yes, Supreme Leader," he said, and then he turned and walked out of the room. His posture was straight, but he had a slight limp.

"Kylo Ren," Snoke said, his voice oily. "The prodigal apprentice returns."

Ben knelt down, forcing Luke to kneel as well.

Rey followed his example. Her head was slightly bowed, but she was able to keep her eyes on Snoke.

"Second thoughts about leaving?" Snoke asked.

"Not at all," Ben said.

What is he doing?

Snoke stood up. "Yet you've returned."

"I saw an opportunity and I took it, and as you can see, it paid off. I have brought Skywalker."

"You have," Snoke said. "The legendary Luke Skywalker had been brought low. How does it feel?"

"You haven't won," Luke said.

"No?" Snoke asked. "Then why are you on your knees."

Luke didn't respond.

Snoke walked away from Luke. "That's what I thought." He stopped in front of Rey. "Why did you bring the girl?" he asked Ben.

Rey looked at Ben.

"She helped me bind Skywalker," Ben said, his head still bowed.

Rey wondered at his word choice, but then realized he was using a familiar strategy. He was lying to Snoke by selectively telling the truth.

Snoke gave her a long look, and she braced herself for him to tear into her mind again.

"We'll deal with you later," Snoke said.

Rey tried not to let her relief show.

Snoke sat back on his throne.

"Kylo Ren, it's time for you to finish what you failed to do all those years ago." Snoke was lounging, looking like a ruler that was dealing with nothing more than an irritation. "It's time for you to fulfil your destiny by doing the one thing Darth Vader failed to do. It's time for you to kill Luke Skywalker."

"Killing me won't be a victory for you," Luke warned. "Death isn't the end."

Snoke gave a twisted smile. "Those are the desperate words of a dead man."

"Shouldn't we interrogate him?" Ben asked.

"I expected you to be eager to kill him." Snoke tilted his head. "Interesting."

Rey's heart sped up.

Ben looked up. "What's interesting?"

"I can sense how conflicted you are." Snoke was staring at Ben so intently that she wondered if he was looking into Ben's mind. "Ah," he said at last, "it's the girl isn't it?"

A chill went down Rey's spine.

"I don't know what you mean," Ben said in a flat voice.

"You're weak for her, you care what she thinks of you, and you want the girl to live." Snoke sounded amused.

Was it always like this? Did Snoke routinely mock Ben? Every time Snoke spoke, he gave her another reason to want him dead.

"Yes," Ben admitted.

Rey felt Snoke's eyes on her. She tried to close off her mind, to keep him out.

"Can she be turned?" Snoke asked.

Ben hesitated. "There's darkness in her."

Another truth, one that Rey was still coming to terms with.

"I sense it too. So much anger." Snoke said. "Girl, why are you here?"

"My name is Rey," she said, and immediately regretted her words.

Ben gave her a sharp look.

Rey amended her answer. "I'm here because of Kylo Ren."

Snoke walked towards her. "Your words ring true, but there is more to it than that."

Rey swallowed. "What do you mean?"

Snoke was now standing directly in front of her.

She wanted to talk to Ben, ask him what she should do, but she knew they couldn't risk drawing attention to their bond. She put her hand in her pocket.

Snoke put his hand on her face, and she shuddered in revulsion. "You say Kylo Ren, but on the surface of your mind is another name" – Rey's breath caught in her throat – "an old name, one that I do not permit anyone to speak."

Rey hit the electronic release mechanism and Luke's cuffs fell off.

...

Ben threw Luke his lightsaber.

Before they could attack, the three of them were thrown back.

Rey rolled on her side and then stood up quickly, ignoring the pain in her in her left arm. She was grateful she hadn't landed on her right.

The Praetorian Guard had them circled.

Rey ignited her lightsaber and moved into a defensive stance. Ben and Luke did the same.

Snoke raised his hand and the Praetorian Guard stopped. "Leave them to me." Snoke pulled all three lightsabers towards him.

Rey's breath caught in her throat. She had been wrong. Even with the three of them, Snoke had the advantage.

...

Two of the Praetorian Guard held Rey and four held Ben. He continued to struggle, but was unable to break free.

Another Praetorian Guard approached her and brought the blade of their vibro-voulge to her neck. She winced, almost nicking herself on the blade.

Ben's eyes widened and he stopped struggling.

She tried to give him a reassuring smile. Fear was coming off him in waves. This wasn't how the plan was supposed to go. They were supposed to attack Snoke together. Snoke wasn't supposed to figure out their ruse so quickly. They hadn't planned for him disarming them so easily.

Snoke had Luke suspended in the air like he once did to her. He tore into Luke's mind, causing him to start screaming.

Did I sound like that?

The first time she was here, Snoke tortured her. It had been nothing like when Ben forced his way into her mind. Snoke wasn't careful. She had lingering nightmares for months.

Rey was surprised that Snoke had left her and Kylo to the Praetorian Guard, but then she realized something: Snoke was vulnerable like this.

He's not as powerful as he wants us to believe, Rey thought, projecting her words to Ben.

Communicating this way is too dangerous.

Not while he's focused on Luke, Rey explained, hoping she was right. That's why he needs the Praetorian Guard to protect him. He can't fight all of us at once.

How can we use that to our advantage? Ben asked.

Everything he does is showy. We need to distract him by giving him what he wants.

"Pathetic," Snoke said, dropping Luke's.

One of the Praetorian Guard pointed their weapon at Luke's crumpled form.

Luke wasn't moving. She hoped he would recover quickly enough for when they needed to fight. They might not be able to defend him.

"Skywalker, you'll get your wish," Snoke said. "The Jedi will end with you." He walked towards Ben. "Now you, master of the Knights of Ren, my formerly loyal apprentice, what should I do with you?"

"I've been weak," Ben said in a small voice.

"You have." Snoke sounded pleased by the admission. "I don't need an apprentice who can be seduced so easily by the Light."

"I want to be strong."

"You do. You know that only I can help you become strong."

"I do," Ben agreed.

"Kill Skywalker."

"What about–"

"I don't care about the girl," Snoke said, spitting out the words. "Kill Skywalker and I will give you one last chance." Snoke gave Ben Luke's lightsaber. "Use this. It's fitting that he dies by his own blade."

"I will kill my true enemy," Ben said.

The Praetorian Guard let Ben go.

"I sense your resolve," Snoke said. "You know who your true enemy is."

Ben raised the lightsaber above Luke.

Rey saw the look of triumph on Snoke's face. That look quickly changed into surprise.

Ben had ignited his mom's lightsaber, stabbing Snoke in the back.

Rey took advantage of the surprise to call her own lightsaber and break free of the Praetorian Guard whose blade had been against her neck.

Snoke was dead. Now they needed to escape.

… … ...

Finn hoped that they weren't too late. He had made it onto the Supremacy with Rose and Paige, and Rose was now trying to disrupt the First Order's hyperspace tracking. They snuck on board with the help of the master codebreaker Maz had recommended. He had declined to come with them, but he gave them the tools they needed.

Not everyone was willing to risk themselves for the Resistance.

"How much longer?" Paige asked. She kept looking at the door.

Rose's jaw clenched. "Not long if you stop distracting me."

Paige went silent and shared a look with Finn. They knew how high the stakes were and saw how much pressure Rose was putting on herself.

Finn knew better than to say anything, but they didn't have much time. If it took much longer, they would either be caught or there wouldn't be a Resistance left to–

"I did it!" Rose said.

Paige wrapped her arms around her sister. "I knew you could do it."

Finn let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding in. He turned on his comm. "Poe, are you there?"

"Tell me you have good news," Poe said.

"We did it," Finn confirmed, smiling.

"Great," Poe said, "we'll leave as soon as you make it back."

Finn's heart sped up. "You only have one system cycle."

"I know. You need to hurry."

"We will." Finn swallowed. "But promise me you'll leave if we don't make it in time."

"Finn–"

"This will have been for nothing if the Resistance doesn't escape," Finn said sharply.

"But–"

"He's right," Paige said. "Promise us that the Resistance will escape."

"Fine," Poe said after a pause, "but please hurry. You're all heros. Don't become martyrs."

"We'll try," Finn said. Sneaking off the Supremacy would be more difficult than sneaking on board.

…

On the way to the escape pods they almost bumped into a group of Stormtoopers. They would have been caught if Paige hadn't pulled them into an alcove. Finn thought one of the Stormtroopers saw him, but they all walked past.

"That was close," Rose said.

Finn saw Rose's eyes widen. Paige reacted first, pointing her blaster at whatever Rose saw.

Finn turned around, his own blaster at the ready, and saw a Stormtooper who had his hands raised in surrender.

"Don't shoot!" The Stormtrooper had a familiar voice.

"Who are you?" Finn asked.

"I'm going to take this helmet off," the Stormtrooper said, and he took off his helmet slowly.

Finn's eyes widened. "Solo," he said, lowering his weapon.

Paige lowered hers too.

"What are you doing here?" Rose asked.

"Looking for you," Han said. "Rey told me I might find you here."

Finn's mouth dropped open slightly. "How did she–"

"I don't question Force users." Han shrugged. "Gives me a headache. Let's get out of here." He nodded in the opposite direction of the escape pods.

"We were going to take an escape pod," Paige said.

Han smiled. "The Falcon is faster."

Han Solo wanted to escape the Supremacy on the Millenium Falcon, one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy. Finn had his doubts, but he didn't voice them. Han had been lucky in the past.

And a feeling told Finn to follow his lead.

…

They made it to the hangar without being caught and Finn could see the Falcon. They were hiding behind a crate near the wall of the busy hangar. All they had to do was make it a few more meters and they would be on the Falcon.

"FN-2187," a voice behind him said. "It's good to see you."

He turned around slowly and saw Phasma and a small group of Stormtroopers pointing their weapons at them.