Leia scanned the horizon from the shield door entry of the compound. She knew the First Order would follow them. It was only a matter of time.

She had been happily surprised when Holdo landed the main ship alongside the escape pods. People had cheered when they saw it, and Leia had waited for the woman to disembark. When they had embraced, Holdo told her of the voice she had heard. Leia thought she knew who it was, but she did not say. She did not want to give these men and women too much false hope. Inside, the technicians were attempting to piece old equipment together so that they could transmit their entreaty for help.

The waiting. It was always the waiting that bothered her the most. Whatever Ben and Rey had done had given them time and saved Holdo. But she would never get used to waiting.

There, on the horizon, she finally saw a spot. Leia blinked, then blinked again. She had expected many dots, indicating many ships, but there was only one. She waited a few more moments, but when no other spots appeared on the horizon, and the one was much closer, she turned away.

"They're coming. Shut the door."

Leia hurried to the control room as the metal door screeched closed behind her. Everything was covered in rust and dust, but it appeared that shield walls had preserved the equipment pretty well.

Poe nodded at Leia. "Shields are up so they can't hit us from orbit. Use all our power to broadcast a distress signal to the Outer Rim."

"Use my signature code," Leia added. "This base has sat derelict for years. It was meant as a hideout, not a fortress. Any allies of the Resistance, it's now or never."

"Let's get a couple of these cameras up and running while we wait." Holdo commanded.

Poe walked to Holdo's side and waited to be acknowledged. "If I don't get a chance to tell you later. I'm really glad you are here."

Holdo smiled coyly at the pilot. "Oh, flyboy. Me, too." She watched the technicians scurrying like ants. "Any word on your friends?"

Poe tensed. "No. And I'm afraid."

It didn't take long for the cameras to work. There was still only one ship heading towards them. Did the First Order believe them to be so destroyed?

Poe left the control room to assist General Ematt with preparing a last line of defense. "What do we got?"

Ematt sighed. "Rotted munitions, rusted-out artillery, some half-gutted ski speeders. Basically, a whole lot of junk."

"Thirteen speeders are more than we had a parsec ago." He clapped Ematt on the shoulder, trying to look hopeful. "Let's get them lined up outside, as well as some ground forces. If the speeders fail, then it's up to you."

Rey stayed at Kylo's side during the journey from the elevator to the hanger. She remained silent when she saw Finn and Rose on the ground as Kylo ordered them to be released. Finn had started to walk towards her, but she gave a shake of her head.

"Get a command shuttle prepared. I want one squadron of stormtroopers with blasters set to stun. Lady Rey and I have unfinished business with the Resistance." Kylo ordered.

"Sir?" Captain Phasma asked, confused.

"Now, Captain!"

"Sir!" She hurried away to complete his orders.

"Exactly what do you plan to do now, Ren? Have a tea party?" Hux sneered. "This is my army you presume to command."

"Actually General, it's mine. As the new Supreme Leader." Kylo bared his teeth at the red-haired man. "Don't worry, though. You're coming with us." Hux had a tendency to kill off his competition, and with his hatred of Kylo, he wasn't about to let the man out of his sight or keep him in charge of the fleet. He wasn't about to let an accident happen to the shuttle or chance another coup. His was enough for the time being.

"Sir, what about the prisoners?" A trooper asked.

"Put them on board as well." Kylo turned to Rey. "Are you ready?" She nodded, and they started to enter the shuttle when there was a frantic beeping noise. Rey turned with happiness.

"BB-8!"

The little droid went speedily towards her, and Rey fell to her knees to hug him. She pulled away, and BB-8 continued beeping. "I know. I know. I'll explain everything to Leia. Finn and his friend are on the shuttle. Get inside and stay close to Finn."

They entered the shuttle, and Rey sat with Kylo in the center to have a better view out the port. Rey's eyes adjusted quickly to the dim lighting to see that Finn, BB-8, and his friend were being guarded in a far corner.

As the shuttle took off, she grasped Kylo's hand. Whatever happens, you must let me speak with them.

No.

Ben….

No. And it's Kylo.

Please. These are my friends…. And your mother.

He didn't respond to that, and she knew she couldn't push any further. She could sense his turmoil. While a part of him was settled, even relieved, about Snoke's death, the Resistance had also been part of what caused his turning to the Dark side.

As soon as the shuttle passed through the planet's atmosphere, she squeezed his hand. "I'll be right back," she whispered softly. Kylo appeared to barely acknowledge her, but the squeeze back let her know that he heard.

She walked back towards Finn and the woman. At first the guards tensed at her approach, but Kylo must have made some gesture behind her, and they relaxed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hux sneering. She wasn't too worried about the re-haired man. She knew Kylo would handle him.

"Are you alright?" Rey asked Finn when she reached him. She wanted to wrap him in a hug but settled for holding his hand.

"Yeah. What about you? What are you doing with Kylo?"

Rey smiled sadly at Finn. "It's a long story, and probably not one you want to hear. But I need you to trust me a little while longer."

"Yeah. Yeah, Rey, of course." She squeezed his hand once before turning to Rose.

"Hi. I'm Rey."

"I know," Rose said. "I'm Rose. I think I should be thanking you for saving our lives, but I'm not sure what's going on."

"It's nice to meet you Rose. And don't mention it." She turned back to Finn. "When we reach the base, I'm going to try to reach out. I need to talk to Leia. Do either of you know how I can do that?"

"We had a comm with Poe. BB-8?"

BB-8 extended his mechanical arm, flipping the commlink to Rey.

"Thank you, BB-8." She rubbed her hand of his lid.

"Rey," Kylo called from the viewpoint. She gave Finn's hand one last squeeze before joining Kylo. She peered out the viewport and saw the ski speeders. "I don't think they will let us in."

She showed him the commlink, but still a few minutes to think about the situation. "Does your mother still connect with the force?"

Kylo took a deep breath. "I sensed her. During the battle."

Rey knew there was something else, but one situation at a time. She reached out, trying to find Leia's Force signature. It was easier than she thought. Leia had a similar signature to her son and her brother. It was slightly diminished, but still bright. Leia?

Rey? Rey, where are you?

In the shuttle. With Ben. Kylo twitched beside her but didn't interrupt.

Ben? Is he…?

He's fine. We both are. Finn and Rose and BB-8 are here, too. Leia. I need to talk to you. Can you let me in?

There was silence on the other end for a time, a long time. Too long for Rey's comfort and Kylo's. His hand started to curl into a tight fist. This was the closest she could get him to extending an olive branch. She prayed that Leia would take it.

Rey?

I'm here.

Come in.