Force Dyad

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Four-A Horrifying Truth

Despite his continued apprehension at the impending visit from his mother, Ben was surprised to feel a sense of disappointment when she cancelled at the last minute. Leia had been forced to suspend the family vacation after her faction, the Populists, convinced her to stand for the position of First Senator. The rival Centrist faction, which supported a stronger central government, had successfully passed a motion calling for the creation of First Senator in order to end the deadlock plaguing the Republic. Despite their initial opposition, the Populists, who preferred a more decentralized government, had decided to change tactics in order to prevent a Centrist from holding that office. Due to her prestige as a prominent former rebel leader, Leia had reluctantly agreed to allow an exploratory committee to explore her suitability for First Senator.

Ben wasn't the only one left feeling disappointed, Han was even more so. He had been looking forward to finally spending quality time with his wife, and for Leia to so abruptly cancel their plans at the eleventh hour, left Han fuming. He had resumed repairing the rear engines of the same starship he had been working on with Rey when he was contacted by his wife. A heated argument ensued between them, a verry uncomfortable reminder to Ben of his parent's fiery relationship. He was glad that for once he wasn't the subject of their discord.

"Do you what you want, Leia!" Han accused. "You always do."

"Han, I'm sorry. Please try and understand." Leia pleaded with him. "I was hoping for your support."

"I always support you, sweetheart." Han responded wearily. "I was just hoping for once you would put your family first instead of your duty to the New Republic."

Hearing the bitter disappointment in his father's voice at being let down by his wife was a stark reminder to Ben that he hadn't been the only one left feeling abandoned by his mother's slavish dedication to her political career. Han had been pushed aside just like he had. It wasn't like Leia even sought her husband's advice when something troubled her, Ben knew that Skywalker filled that role. It just made him resent his uncle more, knowing that Skywalker even managed to interfere in his parent's marriage.

Han ended the call with the unsatisfactory promise from his wife that she would take a break with him sometime in the near future. It was clear from his low mood that Han didn't believe a word of it. He was grouchier than normal and difficult to handle as he nursed his disappointment. He even snapped at Rey, which didn't go down too well with Ben. They exchanged a few harsh words, until Rey suddenly burst into a waterfall of tears right in front of them as the stress of the situation got too much for her to handle. A shame faced Han immediately apologised, finally realising that his son was right, now he could see how his actions were affecting those closest to him.


To take his mind off his wife, Han threw himself into preparation for the up coming Five Sabers race. As expected, Ben won the Gauntlet, and had been selected to run in the race. The three of them relocated to Theron to rendezvous with the other participants. Theron was a planet in the Theron system, whose surface featured famous spiral stone formations. It had a strong racing culture, including podracing, which made it the perfect place to host the upcoming tournament.

When they had settled into their new quarters, Han sent a holomessage to his wife, expressing his hope that her application for the position of First Senator was running smoothly. Perturbed by the lack of response from Leia, Han contacted C-3PO, only for his wife's diplomatic droid to inform him that in addition to the First Senatorship, Leia was involved in a sensitive Senate investigation into the Nikto crime lord Rinnrivin Di's cartel, a new criminal outfit that was choking the economy of the Gaulus sector. Leia was being assisted in this investigation by an unlikely ally, the idealistic Centrist senator Ransolm Casterfo. Han also learned from the hapless droid that his wife had confided in Skywalker about her secret mission, but hadn't bothered to tell her own husband that she was risking her life…again!

Han was infuriated at being kept in the dark. After digging further, he discovered that Leia was currently visiting Ryloth as part of her investigation into the cartel's dubious activities. Han's anger and frustration boiled over at his wife's lack of confidence and faith in him. He decided to abandon the Five Sabers race and leave for Ryloth so he could confront Leia face to face.

"I'm sorry, Ben." Han apologised gruffly. "I know the race is at a pivotal point. You're about to enter the fourth stage-the sublight relays. I hoped to be here to train with you…but it's important I confront your mother about the danger she's putting herself in. She's taking unnecessary risks and I'm angry that your uncle didn't even try and talk her out of it."

Han's expression turned sour as he thought about Skywalker. Ben recognised the look of anger mixed with resentment, and realised that the exact same expression had often crossed his own face when it came to the jedi master. It made him feel an affinity with his father he hadn't felt in a while. "This is more important. I've done enough preparation. I'll be fine."

"Thanks." Han favoured him with his usual half smile. "I don't need to tell you to look out for the kid while I'm gone." He continued, his smile fading and his expression turning grave. "I don't have time to wait for her to finish school to say goodbye. I need to leave immediately. Will you tell her…." He sighed, his throat tightening as his emotions overwhelmed him.

"I know, Dad." Ben's voice was filled with empathy as he reached out and put a comforting hand on Han's shoulder. "Rey will understand why you had to go."

Han nodded and surprised Ben by pulling him into a hug. Not used to his father being such a demonstrative man, it took a minute or so before Ben returned the hug. The hug itself was a simple enough gesture-affection, perhaps the fragile beginnings of proper reconciliation.

"Stay safe." Han said, finally letting go. "I'll be in touch."


Rey's disappointment at Han's abrupt departure turned to sadness when she learned the reason behind it. His leaving made her realise that the only constant in her life remained Ben. She understood she had emotionally placed Han on a pedestal-seeing in him the father she couldn't even remember-yet it was a role he had never asked for, so how was he supposed to deliver on it? She had created her own disappointment, so she had no right to feel let down by him, to feel abandoned when he clearly had a greater commitment, and had to leave for reasons beyond his control.

Ben could feel the hurt radiating off her. Her emotions were like an open book to him. He did his best to reassure her that Han had promised to return as soon as he could, but it was obvious that Rey was still struggling to contain her feelings of desertion. Her wayward emotions were a reflection on her past issues. He understood that she could try and tame those feelings with logic, and try to reason with herself and see it from Han's perspective. But Ben knew better than anyone that feelings were never logical. How often had he felt the same bitter disappointment in Han, when his father had taken off in the past and left him behind?

"I'm sorry. I understand how you feel, Rey. I do." Ben assured her when he saw the tears welling in her eyes.

Rey shook her head, and Ben felt hurt by her perceived rejection, until she composed herself enough to explain. "I should be the one who's sorry."

"Why?" Ben was confused by her assertion.

"Because I've been selfish." Rey confessed. The watery tears in her eyes continued to glimmer brightly as she spoke. She gulped in air, her voice crumbling with the weight of her guilt. "I know you've been unhappy, Ben. I've been thoughtless and ignored how sad you were, hoping that in time things would change. I wanted to stay with Han and that meant forcing you to stay, too. But I understand now…. I do…now he's left….and…and…I know what it must have been like for you."

Rey had always been so self-conscious when she cried, but now she just gave way to the enormity of her grief at Han leaving and her guilt over Ben. Her breathing was ragged, she gasped when the strength left her legs and she sagged against him. Each of her sobs sent a new wave of agony through Ben as he tried to comfort her. Rey's slim shoulders shook in each rake of emotion through her thin frame. As he watched her shake with grief, tears flowing unchecked, there was part of him that was breaking too. If she wasn't the same then neither would he be. That's what happens when you care so much about someone. Their happiness was a part of your own.

"Its okay." Ben promised fervently. "You've always got me. You know that, right? I'll never leave."

Ben's reassuring words soothed Rey's fears, just as crying helped cleanse her soul, as she recognised the vulnerability within herself and let him see it, too.


A few weeks later Ben was announced as the winner of the Five Saber's race. On the day he stood on the podium to receive his accolades and the considerable prize money, he officially announced his retirement from the racing scene. After his heartfelt talk with Rey, they had decided it was time to move on.

As his face and the highlights of the famous tournament were broadcast across the galaxy, the transmissions were suddenly interrupted by a breaking news story. In front of an audience of billions, Ben was confronted with the horrifying truth of his mother's true parentage.

Due to his hatred for Darth Vader, Ransolm Casterfo was deeply hurt by Leia Organa's perceived indiscretion of keeping her connection to Vader a secret. Feeling betrayed, Senator Casterfo upstaged a Senate hearing into Senator Organa's nomination as the Populist candidate for First Senator by revealing her true parentage. When the Populist Varish Vicly denounced Casterfo's revelation as a lie, Casterfo furnished the keepsake chest and music box that had been gifted to Leia by her adopted father, Bail Organa. Lady Carise had supplied the music box as evidence which featured an audio recording from Bail to his beloved daughter. After the Senate listened to the audio recording of Bail Organa confirming Leia's true parentage, Leia had been forced to admit that her father was indeed Darth Vader, the most hated Sith lord in the galaxy.

A/N-thanks for reading. Please review!