Last On: Ben tries to train Rey, but fails. She won't open up and show the memory he asked her to, of when her powers broke Ben's door. The Resistance had Ben film another set of Holo's to seem like he is taking over worlds.

Chapter 18

Finn walked into the conference room to attend the scheduled meeting. He didn't always attend meetings with the Resistance Command, but this morning he received a special invite. As he walked in he appraised the room.

Poe was sitting with Leia and the other command members. He was chatting with them quietly, and looked too busy to interrupt.

Rey was chatting with a few other Resistance members who likely had received special invites as well. None of them, to Finn's knowledge, had any command positions.

In a corner, sitting all alone, Finn spotted Ben. Of his usual scowls, Finn recognized this scowl as his bored scowl. He reckoned it was safe to approach.

"Hey," Finn greeted, as he sat down next to Ben.

"Hey," Ben replied. Their conversation was short lived because one of the command stood and turned to start a presentation.

Another member got up and turned out the lights. The Holo-Projector on the middle of the table turned on. "We've learned, thanks to Ben Solo, that a First Order Star Dreadnought is being built here." A map of the systems was displayed on the table, highlighting one planet in particular. "It is said to be more powerful than the Supremacy. According to our reports, it is near completion."

"And we're gonna blow it up," one of the others guessed.

The command looked around at each other before Poe spoke up. "We're gonna steal it." Poe had an amused grin on his face.

Leia looked around and saw confusion and shock erupting around the room. Even her son appeared to be laughing. "We released our holo this morning, of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren claiming to still be in power." Even Ben looked up, shocked it seemed to hear his mom use his dark side name. "If we're going to continue to use this strategy to cut down the first order, from the inside out, we're going to need to get out there with a ship. A Star Dreadnought is the most impressive ship they have, and keeping it out of Hux's hands will be a victory as well."

As the meeting went on, a plan was formed. Or tweaked, as it seemed like the command had a general plan already. Several of those present were experts in this or that and helped to tweak the details of the plan. Finn looked for a place to add his own expertise, but he'd already shared much of what he knew about the First Order, and this particular shipyard wasn't one he was familiar with. The plan was to send in two teams. One was to hijack the ship, while the other was to destroy the main computer that held the ship's command codes at the terminal.

A subject was brought up next that was party to much arguing: How to make it look like Kylo's people stole the ship instead of the Resistance. In the end it was decided to have the teams descend wearing Stormtrooper gear over their parachute suits. This came as a difficult pill to swallow for some of them. Finn didn't take it personally though. He hated that armor, but he would wear it for a mission if they'd asked. No one mentioned what to do once inside, though. The storm trooper gear would have to be stripped off with the parachutes once they landed. But there were cameras outside that would see stormtroopers landing, and Finn guessed that would be enough.

Then another slide on the holo was pulled up. It was a list of names. Names of who would be sent on the mission, as part of the two teams. Finn scanned this list, looking for his own name. But he didn't find it. Poe was on the list, leading one of the two teams. Rey's was on there as well. As were several others in the room, but not Finn's.

"Uh, General." Ben's face was pale. Though he continued to scowl, Finn thought he recognized a bit of panic underneath. His voice shook as he spoke. "A-Are you sure you want to send your Jedi on a mission with such lousy odds?"

Leia just gazed intently at her son.

"It's ok, we'll protect her," went Poe. "Besides, we'll need her little Jedi mind trick so the guards report the ship was stolen by a bunch of stormtroopers, and you."

"Then send me. It'll make it more believable anyway."

"No Ben." This was all Leia said, in a tone that demonstrated it was all she would have to say.

Ben was breathing pretty fast at this point. Finn was sure Ben would protest again, but he glanced up towards where Rey was sitting, then back to his mom, and instead he breathed out, "Fine."

When the meeting was over Finn was still unsure why he was summoned. Ben rushed out of the room immediately.

Leia walked over to where Finn was sitting. "I want to talk to you," she said.

"Yes, General, Leia, Ma'am. I'm not sure why I was called out here today," Finn said.

"I put your name on the invite list. I have a little side project for you." said Leia, and Finn's eyes went up. "You know now about what we are planning. With Supreme Leader Kylo Ren's image and reputation in our hands now. Well, we are going to need more stormtrooper armor if we really want to fool Hux. And we can't go out white against white, our men won't know who to fire at. Besides the white stormtrooper is so associated with tyranny and bloodshed already, and we want a more appealing image. That's why I want you to redesign the armor."

"Redesign?" repeated Finn.

"No one knows that armor like you do. I'm sure there are a few improvements you'd like to make."

"There are a few," Finn smiled. His mind went back to the pains of standing in that stuff all day long.

"Good. You'll find an old 3D printer in the basement. Room O-Thirty Four." Leia looked down, then back up at Finn. "I also want to thank you. I see you're trying to befriend my boy. I know he has a lot of walls up, but he'll need friends like you if he's ever going to bring them down."

"Yeah, it would be easier if he had a few more interests, though." Finn paused and Leia looked inquiringly at him. "I mean the man has like two interests. Physical training, and Rey. Ya Know, I'd like to keep my ability to walk, and I don't look that cute in hair buns." Leia chuckled, and patted Finn's shoulder.

"Keep trying, you'll find a way," she said.

As Finn was leaving the conference room he noticed Rey and Ben were having a heated argument outside. Finn did not want to get involved in whatever it was about, so he went the other way.


Finn started on his tablet computer, making sketches of ideas. In the end, though, he wasn't satisfied with any of his plans. Something was missing, and he didn't know what to do about the color. Leia specifically asked him to change it from white, but nothing he thought of seemed right. Eventually Finn was ready for a break. Plus he was beginning to think about the conversation he had with Leia. Perhaps, maybe, the subject of armor was something Ben could get behind as well.

Finn set off and found Ben reading on his tablet in the lounge. 'Reading, there's another interest' Finn took note of in his thoughts.

"Ben, I thought maybe, you'd want to train with me." It was a risky proposition, but Finn thought it would help his argument more than it would hurt. He hoped at least.

Ben put his tablet away and looked up at Finn impressed. "Alright," he said.


When they got to the training room, Finn laid down the rules. "We go, fist to fist. No Force Powers. No weapons. And first to yield looses." Ben nodded as he took a place in the ring.

They both stalked around each other in the beginning. Then Ben pulled a punch, but Finn managed to avoid his fist, pulling his body left. Then Finn threw a punch and hit Ben's chest. Ben didn't seem affected as he backed up a step and repositioned for the fight.

They continued to trade punches, mostly rather tame. Finn concluded that Ben must be holding back. Which he appreciated very much. When they took a water break, Finn brought up the project.

"You know, the stormtrooper armor we're using for the missions. To fool Hux, and everyone," Finn began.

"Yeah, does that bother you?" Ben asked.

It shocked Finn, he wasn't expecting the question.

"Them using dead trooper's armor like a costume. It doesn't bother you," Ben rephrased.

"No. The armor is in my past now. It's not me anymore. What I was trying to bring up, is in making the armor. The General wants some changes made to the design. It sounds like she wants some extreme new vision, type of armor. She put me in-charge of the redesign. I was thinking, if you were interested, I could use your help."

"I'll think about it," Ben answered. Then they went back to their matches.

Suddenly mid fight, Ben spun around and threw his body weight into the fight. He threw Finn against the rope barrier of their ring, and would have pounced on him if Finn hadn't shouted "I Yield," as loud as he could. Ben was taken aback by the sudden change, then he looked up and saw Rey walking past them in the training room. She was holding her lightsaber, and heading for a dummy, but was within view of their match. "Showoff," Finn mumbled under his breath at Ben, before he hobbled off to the showers.

Truth was, when Rose first told him about her theories about Kylo, Ben and Rey, he thought she was nuts. He did feel a touch of jealousy and betrayal, but he remembered Rey wouldn't betray the Resistance for anything. There must be something more to it, he thought. And moments like these, he'd be blind not to see.


Later that evening, Finn finished a work assignment, a part of his daily duties, and went down to the basement to look for the printer Leia mentioned. He wasn't ready to print yet, but he wanted to appraise the machine, and see what he'd have to work with.

As he was walking down the hallway he heard laughter and hushed voices coming from one of the rooms. It was Rey and Ben.

"Alright I figure that memory was probably a little too strong to use for practice, how about another time you lost control. You pick," said Ben.

"Alright, I've got one. It's a little embarrassing though, so don't laugh," ordered Rey.

There was a pause, then Ben started laughing hard.

"Stop laughing," said an exasperated Rey. "It wasn't that funny, and you promised to help."

Ben chuckled another deep laugh. "Ok, I think the strategy of deep breathing, combined with some imaginings would help. Ok, go back in. Now take a deep breath. Deeper. You want to Fill this part of your chest. Yes, yes, ok. Now imagine your island. Feel the sand on the shore, and hear the wind and the waves.

"Oh my. The flame is getting smaller. Or was. I gotta do that some more."

"As you practice it will get easier."

Finn was glad to hear them getting along again. Though he had an assignment to do, and he didn't want to stand there all day.

Hello Everyone. This chapter is in Finn's perspective. I know my version of Finn's character is a little different than the one in most Fanfics. Truth, this is the type of character progression I would like to see in the movies, if I had my way. I did read enough spoilers to know how much to expect, though I won't spill anything here. Anyways, if you like my Finn characterization, I did have more ideas for the Finn perspective, but I'm gonna have to cut it into separate chapters. I don't know yet if they'll be consecutive though. So stay tuned.