Chapter 25: Training and the Falcon Returns
Rey had her eyes closed in meditation as Luke had taught her and the children. After all these years, Rey was still a novice in ways of the Force. Luke had been the one to sever the connections she and Briana had to Ben. It had broken her heart as she loved Ben, but Luke had said as long as Ben was being Kylo Ren, then it was for the best that he couldn't locate her, Briana, and Han. Rey opened her eyes to see Luke with Han. The boy loved his grandmother and great-uncle Luke dearly. Much like Briana had, he would eagerly listen to either Leia or Luke telling stories about Alderaan or Tatooine. His and Briana's favorites were about their grandfather Han Solo. Little Han loved the stories the most as he knew how much of a hero his grandfather was. Leia had explained that it was an honor for the little boy to be his grandfather's namesake. Han also would have adored his grandson and granddaughter. As much as Ben was quick to say that Han had neglected him, Leia said that Han hadn't.
Han came running to her, his dark eyes gleaming with the joy that only a five-year-old had. "Mumma, Uncle Luke said he's gonna teach me how to run an obsta... obsta... course," Han said, fumbling over the big word.
"It's obstacle, my sweetheart. Yes. Jedi knights need to learn how to run an obstacle course," Rey said as her little boy threw his arms around her neck and gave her a wet kiss on her cheek.
"Did Briana run it too?" Han asked, cocking his head quizzically. It was at times like this that his resemblance to Ben was the strongest and broke her heart the most.
""Yes. Briana is a Jedi also," Rey said, smoothing her son's dark hair gently.
"Did Daddy run the course too?" Han asked Luke.
"Where the Jedi Academy used to be, yes. All Jedi run the course, Han," Luke said as the Falcon came into the atmosphere.
"Rey, the Falcon's back," one of the fighters came and tossed over her shoulder. Rey, Kaydel, Rose, and others came to watch as the ship landed, igniting everything in it's path. Beaumont was directing techs to the ship and Rey's eyes widened in shock. Granted, Rey had damaged BB-8 while she ran the course a few hours ago, but his damage was light compared to the damage done to Han's ship.
"It's on fire. All of it's on fire," Poe said wearily as Poe and Briana came into Rey's line of vision. Briana went to her and hugged her tightly and hugged Han.
"Hey. So is there a spy?" Rey asked as Kaydel went to her husband, followed by their son Justin. Kaydel hugged him and Poe ran his hand tiredly through his son's hair.
"Really could have used your help out there," Poe said in a offhanded manner.
"How did it go?" Rey asked.
"Really bad actually," Poe said cryptically.
Rey's eyes went back to the Falcon. "Han's ship," Rey said as she got a good look at it.
"What did you do to the droid?" Poe asked and Rey looked down to see BB-8 beside Han.
"What did you do to the Falcon?" Rey asked, changing the subject.
"The Falcon's in a lot better shape than he is," Poe said.
"BB-8's not on fire, Uncle Poe," Han said.
"What's left of him isn't on fire," Poe said.
"Tell me what happened," Rey said.
"You tell me first," Poe argued.
Rey smiled smugly. "You know what you are?" Rey asked.
"What?" Poe asked.
"You're difficult. Really difficult. You're a difficult man," Rey said.
"You- You are-" Poe started to say.
"Rey," Finn came up to them, Rose and his daughter Tara in his arms.
Rey, Briana, and Han went to him and he hugged Rey. "Finn, you made it back," Rey said. Finn, Poe, and Briana all looked worn out, but Briana looked relieved about something.
"Barely," Finn said, sighing heavily.
"So, bad mood?" Rey asked as she pulled back to look into her friend's dark eyes.
"Me?" Finn asked, looking baffled.
"Him," Rey said, pointing over her shoulder at Poe who was straightening BB-8's antenna. Han stood there watching. Poe had often said that he liked both Han and Briana and he never got tired of hearing them call him Uncle Poe.
"Always," Finn said.
"Do we have a spy?" Rey asked.
"Mother, Uncle Poe had us lightspeed skip the Falcon," Briana said from her place beside Chewbacca who growled an affirmative.
Rey turned her ire on Poe. "You lightspeed skipped?" Rey asked as she went to her son and Poe.
"Well, it got us back here, didn't it?" Poe asked.
"Poe, the compressor's down," Rey exclaimed in exasperation.
"I know. I was there," Poe said shortly as Finn tried to stop the argument.
"Every time," Finn said and everyone ignored him as if he hadn't said anything.
"You can't lightspeed skip the Falcon!" Rey exploded.
"Actually, turns out you can, Mother," Briana said as Poe stood.
"Okay, guys, we just landed," Finn said.
"What happened?" Rey asked as Poe started to walk away and they all followed him.
"Bad news. That's what happened," Poe ground out.
"No spy?" Rey asked.
"No spy," Poe confirmed.
"Did we make contact with a spy or not?" Rey asked, irritably.
"Mother, there's a mole in the First Order and they sent us a message," Briana said as BB-8 warbled.
Poe turned to face Rey. "You and Han dropped a tree on him?" Poe asked incredulously.
"You blew both sub-alternators?" Rey deflected.
"You know, maybe you should have been out there with us," Poe said.
"You know, I want to be," Rey said, amidst Finn's protest.
"Yeah, but you're not. You're here training with Han and Luke for what? You and Briana are the best fighters we have. We need you out there. Not here," Poe said as he stormed off.
Rey turned to look at her children and Finn. "Mother, it's true. I know Uncle Luke and Grandmother want to train Han in the ways of a Jedi, but if it's true then the Resistance needs us out there, not here," Briana said as she turned to her quarters.
"What's the message, Finn?" Rey asked, hoping it had nothing to do with Ben. Rey had spent the past five years with her children running from Ben. Ben wouldn't show mercy this time if he got her or Briana. He wouldn't hurt Han because he was his son and was only five, but he would traumatize the boy in other ways by killing the Resistance or Leia, Luke, Rey, and Briana in front of him.