Ben claws his way back to consciousness spitting mad. His head aches nearly as bad as when he woke up the first time, only now there's a steady throbbing where the blaster shot (thankfully set to stun) hit him. Adrenaline rushes through him as he jerks himself upright and staggers to his feet, making him forget that he's actually been tired and still is tired to a certain degree.
Friend of Rey's or not, he's going to wring that trooper's neck. But to do that, he first has to find the bastard.
"If you're looking for General Dameron, he's already left."
Ben nearly trips over his own feet as he whirls around to face the sudden voice. It's yet another Force ghost. Only this one he has to look up at. It's a rather odd experience for him. In general he towers over just about everyone. The only time he ever really looks up at people is when he's kneeling, something he plans to avoid doing now because just no.
"What?"
The man brushes an imaginary piece of lint off his robes. "General Dameron? If you're looking for him, he's already left."
Ben grits his teeth so hard his jaw starts aching. "And you know this how, exactly?"
An unimpressed eyebrow gets raised. "I'm the one who sent him on his way. I did not, however, suggest stunning you before he went."
Ben pauses, rolling that sentence around in his mind a few times and still not quite understanding. "You told Dameron he had to leave me here alone, even after Rey specifically requested he stay with me? Why?"
"Because, Ben Solo, in the grand scheme of things, not much has changed thus far in the story. The First Order is still coming to Takodana seeking the droid. While Kylo Ren is no more, the Knights of Ren still very much exist." Sithspawn, he'd completely forgotten about them. Kind of understandable, he thinks to himself, given that he'd had to go through all of them on Exogol before getting to Rey. In his mind they're still dead and dealt with. "They are coming to Takodana and will not leave until they have the map to Luke Skywalker in some way, shape, or form."
Ben suddenly has a horrible feeling that he knows exactly where this is going. "I—"
"The only three people at the moment on Takodana who specifically know where Luke Skywalker is are you, Rey Skywalker, and General Dameron himself. I informed the General of this. As you might imagine, he was very adamant that Rey not be taken this time." Well, that's one thing he and Finn agree on. "To ensure she not be taken, either you or General Dameron needed to get to the Knights of Ren before her. I merely pointed out that you were liable to follow after him if you felt him leaving."
"So he decided to shoot me in the face," Ben deadpans. Well, in all honesty, Ben can't say he blames him for taking the opportunity. Doesn't mean he's going to like it. Being stunned from point blank range kriffing hurts.
"Indeed." The Jedi master fixes Ben with a knowing look. "He mentioned something along the lines of not allowing the Knights of Ren to get you either when I questioned him afterwards."
And this, this is the moment that Ben knows that he and Finn, eventually, will be friends. Because Finn didn't have to do that. And while it's probably more so Rey doesn't have to chase down the Knights of Ren for capturing him, it's still Finn thinking to keep Ben safe. Of course, Ben also knows that Rey's going to want to rescue Finn from Starkiller Base just like he did for her. He should probably also make sure he's with her when she realizes what Finn did. Otherwise, all of this will have been for nothing, and Ben really doesn't want to have gotten shot for nothing.
"Are there any blasters left on board?"
"No, General Dameron took the last one."
Of course he did. "Any parting words of wisdom?" he asks sarcastically.
"That these are your first steps, Ben Solo. Choose them wisely."
And then Ben is alone again. He takes a deep, fortifying breath before marching out of the Falcon. A lake is what greets him first, along with getting smacked in the face by the smell of pine. Further down the shoreline he spots Maz's castle. Another deep breath and then he's sprinting through the trees. He only manages to get so far before the Force screams in his ears, practically forcing his gaze skywards as he skids to a halt.
It takes him a moment to see it.
But then he does.
Red light streaking across the sky.
Ben feels his stomach heave.
He'd forgotten that General Hux ordered Starkiller Base used once before it was destroyed. Last time he'd stood on the bridge of his ship watching it all unfold with cold indifference, so sunk into the Dark Side that the attack and its consequences meant nothing to him. Now, enveloped by Light, he's forced to endure the feeling of millions of lives winking out all at once. All their terror and panic helplessness just snuffed out. Five planets gone almost in the blink of an eye. It's over with almost as soon as it began, and all is quiet again in the Force. If it weren't for the raw ache Ben still feels, he could almost pretend it never happened.
The unfortunately familiar screaming sound of approaching TIE fighters reminds Ben that he still has to get to Maz's place. Especially given that that's where they're all converging on. Despite his rolling stomach, he presses onward. He's rather glad he ditched the cloak before he headed to Jakku, as it would've made running in a forest difficult.
The TIE fighters rain down a barrage of shots the moment they're within firing range, sending stone flying from the force of the explosions. Ben grits his teeth when he sees his old command shuttle descending. He just knows that the Knights are on board it. He's going to have to either avoid them or deal with them before they can alert anyone to the fact that he's on Takodana.
Unsurprisingly, it's utter chaos. Ben sinks into the Force, ducking and weaving amongst the blaster shots flying all over the place as people defend themselves from the attacking Stormtroopers. He follows the siren call of the kyber crystal in his grandfather's lightsaber. It leads him back to Rey and Han and Chewie. Who are surrounded by troopers with their hands up by their heads. Why Rey hasn't attempted to use either the Force or the lightsaber, Ben doesn't try to figure out. Instead, he pulls a tried and true classic Solo move. Grab all the attention you can and pray you can talk your way out.
"Hey!"
Everyone jumps when he shouts. In any other circumstances, it would be hilarious. Instead he gets hit full force with Rey's panic and terror at the sight of him.
What are you doing here?! she practically screams at him.
He doesn't get a chance to answer. Movement out on the water catches his attention, along with the attention of the troopers. And then there's X-Wings in the air shooting down the TIE fighters. Ben uses the distraction to call the lightsaber to him. The metal almost seems to sing when it smacks into his palm. He inhales sharply and then moves. It's a dance his body still remembers as troopers fall to his blade. Han, Chewie, and Rey grab blasters and start taking out troopers further away. Ben continues to circle around the three of them, deflecting any blaster shots that come their way. For all that fights seem to last forever while moving, when Ben finally slides to a stop not much time has actually passed. His chest heaves as he watches the sky where the command ship is flying away before Rey smacks into him. He scrambles to turn off the lightsaber so he doesn't accidentally hurt her with it.
"What were you thinking?" she demands. Ben's pretty sure she'd shake him if she could. "Why'd you leave the Falcon? Where's Finn?"
Ben reflexively wraps an arm around her without meaning to. He dips his head to briefly breathe her in. "Give me a moment," he mutters, adrenaline still pumping for all that the fight's finished. It's making him twitchy and uncomfortable. Of course, an X-Wing has to come screaming towards them, blowing up all the loose dirt and dust in the area. Ben presses Rey's face to his chest in an attempt to shield her, his own eyes and mouth tightly shut as he rides out the storm until the engines cut off. He still seems to get a mouthful of dirt out of the ordeal. Even before the pilot scrambles out of his fighter, Ben already knows who it is. At this point, there's really only one option.
Poe Dameron trips over his own feet as he races over to them, sweaty hair wild when he rips off his helmet and just dumps it on the ground. He's breathing just as harshly as Ben was moments before, eyes wide and pupils blown. Ben can almost taste the terror and confusion pouring off him.
"What the kriffing hell is going on?!" he finally manages to spit out through panting breaths, trembling so hard he seems liable to come apart at the seams. "And someone had better tell me where the hell my husband is, or we are going to have issues!"
"Ben," Rey whispers, pressing a hand to his heart and looking up at him pleadingly. "Where's Finn?"
Ben scrubs a hand over his face, wincing when it makes the ache between his eyes where he'd gotten shot flare up again. "Finn is currently in the custody of the First Order, more specifically the Knights of Ren. Before you arrived, he was one of three people on the planet who actually knows Luke Skywalker's location. He refused to allow Rey be taken this time." Here he fixes an exasperated look on Poe who appears to be gearing himself up to rip into Ben. "Before you yell at me about turning him over to the First Order to gain your trust, your husband decided to shoot me point blank in the face to keep me from following after him."
Poe stares at him for a second, expression going flat. "And you just expect me to believe that? You expect me to take your word on where my husband is and how exactly he got there? How do you even know that if he did shoot you?"
Pressure that Ben hadn't quite noticed building suddenly makes his ears pop and then the Force Ghost from earlier is back. "Ben Solo knows because I told him, General Dameron." Ben finds himself blinking rapidly when Poe lets out a startled shriek and skitters towards him and Rey. He hadn't thought that people not Force sensitive could see Force ghosts, but apparently he was wrong.
"Master Jinn?" Rey gasps.
Ah, that's who the man is. Qui-Gon Jinn. The master of his master's first master.
Qui-Gon smiles kindly at Rey, inclining his head. "Master Skywalker." There's a teasing lilt to his voice, one Ben would pay more attention to if his head wasn't starting to threaten to spin on him. Especially because Rey's cheeks flush pink. He glances down at the hand still holding the lightsaber and he finds it shaking. Violently.
He barely manages to choke out, "Rey," before his knees buckle on him for the second time today. The ground he's standing on is barely any more forgiving than the metal grating in the Falcon. Dirt bites under his fingernails as he fights for air that doesn't seem to want to come. Stars dance in and out of his vision, white spots that grow bigger with every passing second. He's choking on nothing and everything and the weight of the universe is pressing down on his chest while his heart goes supernova and—
Hands slap onto his cheeks and he's suddenly forced to look at Poe instead of the ground. "Ben, I need you to breathe with me, alright?" Poe's voice is surprisingly steady in the midst of the chaos Ben's drowning in. "In—" His shoulders rise. "—and out." His shoulders fall. "In—" Ben forces himself to copy Poe for all that it feels like nothing's happening. "—and out. In and out. In—" Air finally seems to burn down his throat and he greedily sucks it up. "Steady, steady. Keep breathing with me, buddy. In and out. In and out."
That's what Ben centers himself on. Poe's steady instructions and the synchronized breathing of the three of them. He can feel Rey pressed up against him, can feel her chest rising and falling in time with his. She has a hand fisted in his shirt, and his neck feels wet where her face is resting. Damn it all, he's made her cry. If his body would just kriffing behave, he'd have a much easier time not making her cry. Only once his tremors die down does Poe finally release him.
"Okay, I vote we don't do that again," the pilot rasps, heaving a huge breath of his own now that he's not helping Ben breathe. He rocks back onto his heels while Rey crowds up into Ben's lap. "That was way more excitement than I needed today."
"Seeing as I don't plan on having to break anymore training bonds with Sith Lords, I think we'll be good," Ben deadpans before he can stop himself.
Poe blinks once before his expression becoming calculating. "You are Ben Solo, then?" His tone gives nothing away as to if he thinks that's a good or bad thing, which leaves Ben rather impressed.
He dips his chin down. "Yes."
Poe regards him silently, gaze drifting down to Rey who's clinging to Ben with her wet face pressed into the crook of his neck. There's steel in his voice when he finally asks, "You'll help us get Finn back?"
His lips twist in a wry smile. "I'll help you blow up Starkiller base if you want. I never did actually like the blasted thing."
"Good, good." Then with a groan Poe drops his face into his hands. "Also, would you mind explaining why we're a good fifty years in the past and dead people are walking around? I thought I was just dreaming again, but then you were down here with Rey, and…" He trails off, unable to finish his sentence.
And that clues Ben onto the fact that they have an audience behind them. Not surprising, given he had to remember how to breathe like a normal being. He doesn't try to turn around, instead focusing on Rey. "Hey starshine." The endearment slips past him as he trails a hand down her back. He steadfastly ignores his now burning cheeks. "Could you possibly go to Poe for a little bit?" The shudder that shakes her almost shakes him. "Hey, hey, I promised, remember?" He gently but firmly tugs at her until she uncurls and can look at him with red-rimmed eyes. "I'll come back to you. Always."
She sniffles, a sound that tears at his heartstrings more than he cares to admit. "Ben, they don't—" Her voice catches in the back of her throat. "Leia doesn't—"
It takes a moment, but what she's trying to say finally hits. While the people behind them don't know her, she has years worth of memories of them. She knows them, especially his mother. But now she has to let them learn about her all over again. And Ben knows Rey. Knows her down to the very depths of her soul. She's worrying over the possibility of them not liking her. "Oh cyar-ika, she's going to love you." Ben sweeps a hand up to cradle her still wet cheek. "She did once already." Rey just shakes her head, burrowing back into Ben's chest. He sighs into her hair, half exasperation and half fondness.
"Hey Rey?" Poe suddenly speaking again has Ben's head snapping back up. The man is smiling, for all that his lips are trembling. "Think you could spare a hug for an old friend?"
If it weren't for the fact that he'd get decked doing it, Ben would've honestly kissed the man. Instead, when Rey moves to go to Poe, he presses a swift kiss to her forehead before letting her go. He watches for a moment as they cling to one another, Poe rocking them back and forth while futility blinking away the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. Rey doesn't make a sound, the need to hold in her suffering still too instinctive. It's not until the man gives him a jerky nod that Ben shuffles away to haul himself to his feet. His legs tremble as they've been wont to do all day, but they hold him.
Only then does he turn to face his parents, shoulder to shoulder for the first time in what he assumes is years.
To face his mother.
She and him haven't stood face to face like this since before he ran from Luke's training. All he ever saw of her after that was what appeared on the holonet if he ever looked. And he hardly ever did. Too much temptation.
She's aged just as much as his father. Her rich brown hair is now shot through with silver, no elaborate braids that he remembers being so fascinated with. All the trials and hardships she's overcome are etched in the lines drawn across her face. Ben wonders if any of them are for the happy times he recalls from his childhood. He desperately hopes so.
He ends up having to clear his throat, a lump having risen up in it. "Hey Mom." It's a croak, sounds just as rusty as calling Han 'Dad' did, but again, so freeing to be able to even say it.
She takes a single step forward, a step towards him. "Ben?"
And so he smiles. Smiles for all that he still isn't used to doing so. Pours all his happiness and joy and love into it at just being able to stand before the woman who gave him life again. Even with the distance still between them, Ben hears her hitch in breath. Who moves first, he never really figures out. All he knows it that one moment they're staring at each other, the next they're a tangle of limbs. The strength of her embrace belays her slight frame, making him feel safe in a way he hasn't since he first left home. Indulging in a passing thought, Ben proceeds to lift his mother clear off her feet. Her startled laughter is like a balm to his soul, making his smile grow even bigger for all that she can't see it. Han can, watching them as he is. He looks almost wistful doing so. Ben doesn't hesitant, extending a hand out to the man to join them while still managing to keep Leia aloft. If Chewie didn't push Han forward, Ben wonders if the man would've come by himself. Regardless, when he stumbles close enough, Ben yanks him into the embrace. Han grumbles under his breath but he comes all the same.
And for a single heartbeat, everything is perfect.
Then Ben remembers that Rey isn't in his arms with them, and the moment ends.
He lets go of Han and sets Leia back down on her feet. There isn't a dry eye among the three of them, but they're all smiling. Han indulgent but happy, Leia fierce and proud, and Ben's cheeks just hurt. He almost chuckles when Leia sweeps a hand across them, but instead just leans slightly into the touch.
"While I expect a full explanation soon, I'll just say this for now." Leia's smile is full of motherly pride and affection, and Ben basks in it. "Welcome home, son."
Ben laughs now, overjoyed to hear the words. "It's good to be back." His expression turns rueful. "And if I ever figure out what's going on, I'll be sure to let you know."
"I'd say it's your fault, Solo, but well…" Poe pipes up from behind.
Ben turns to see both Poe and Rey have gotten to their feet. Poe has an arm slung over Rey's shoulder, tucking her up against his side. "Kind of hard, given my former situation," Ben deadpans. Rey flinches at the reminder of Exogol, and he wonders how long it'll take before she doesn't do that anymore. How long he'll have to live before she doesn't cringe at any mention of his death.
"Exactly," Poe drawls, having given Rey a squeeze of comfort. "Now, we have a First Order base to blow up and a husband of mine to retrieve. Let's regroup back on D'Qar and see if we can't come up with a better plan than last time, as Finn's not with us this go round."
Ah yes, coming out of lightspeed after getting through the planetary defensive shield. That had pissed off a number of higher ups in the First Order, but it was just the sort of reckless plan Han Solo was known for. Ben had been grudgingly impressed when he'd finally learned about it.
He lets a smirk come out as he replies, "Aye, General." It's worth Poe flummoxed expression because it makes Rey chuckle. Anything that makes Rey laugh is a good idea. "You'll want to get back in your X-Wing if we're going to go anywhere," he adds with a nod to the fighter when none of them actually make to move.
"Yeah, yeah." Poe waves his words away. "You good, Rey?"
She gives him a small but true smile. "I'll see you back on D'Qar."
Poe kisses her cheek in reply, steps forward to slap Ben's back and then marches smartly back to his X-Wing. Ben wonders at his lack of acknowledgement towards his mother, but then sees the coiled tension in the man's shoulders and remembers that Poe looked up to and served under Leia for a number of years. That her sudden reappearance will have shaken the man just like it has him. And unfortunately, there's no time for anyone to really fall apart like he thinks they all want to. So he makes no mention of it.
"Rey," he says instead. "Who do you want to go with?" She just blinks befuddled at him. "My mom or dad. Who do you want to fly back to D'Qar with?" She worries her lower lip between her teeth, peeking briefly around him. Her eyes abruptly going wide is all the warning Ben gets before a hand settles on his lower back.
"I think my people can get back to base without my being on the command ship," Leia informed them softly. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not let either you or your father out of my sight for the time being."
"Fine with me," he agrees breathlessly. He hadn't been too keen on separating from one of them anyways. "Rey?"
His beautiful starbright girl breathes in and out before nodding her agreement as well for all that he can feel her hesitation in the Force. She takes his hand when he offers it, squeezing his fingers tightly for a brief moment.
"General," she murmurs, dipping her head to Leia in deference.
Leia just smiles warmly in welcome, like Ben knew she would. "If you can make my Ben look so besotted, then just call me Leia."
Heat blooms across his cheeks when Rey glances up at him with a fond look. "Leia, then."
Finn hurts just about everywhere, but still he grits his teeth and endures. He'd chosen this so Rey wouldn't have. He'd also been right that the First Order isn't going to force him through reconditioning since he announced he's seen the map they want.
The Knights of Ren don't have Kylo Ren's abilities to manipulate the Force, so they have to use physical means to try and make him talk as they don't have time for mental torture. Not if they want to try and beat the Resistance to Luke Skywalker.
He's grimly satisfied that they won't get Luke's location out of him.
He's General Finn Dameron of the Resistance, and he knows that they're coming for him. Poe and Rey won't allow for anything else. He just has to hold on until they arrive. He does remember what Rey told him of her time here, how she managed to trick the guards into leaving and escaping. In brief moments he has alone, he tries centering himself as much as he can with the fragments of training he possesses. Another thing to talk to Rey about once he gets out of here.
The near silent hiss of the door sliding open tells him that his momentary solitude is over.
"Ready to talk yet, traitor?"
Finn bares his bloodied teeth. "Make me."
