Decrypting the Stormtrooper's comlink proved to be a success. A meeting was to be held to inform the leaders of the Resistance of the findings, but Finn sought out Rey to let her know beforehand.
"The transmissions were sent to a ship orbiting near Aquilaris," Finn explained. "We'll need to confer with the others first, but Poe is going to suggest we eventually travel there to search for signs of the First Order,"
"Which will likely put us in another battle,"
"Most likely," Finn agreed. "Poe's also making sure you and I go in wearing armor,"
Rey couldn't argue with that. When she'd faced both Snoke and Palpatine she hadn't worn any protective gear; this time around, she wouldn't be so reckless.
Mentally steadying herself, Rey searched for the words to continue where they'd left off during their last one-on-one conversation. "Finn," she started, "About the last time we spoke…"
"We don't have to discuss it further if you don't want to," Finn said, recalling Rey's pained expression when he'd inquired about who she'd loved and lost.
"Thank you, though you of all people deserve to know who it was," Rey said. "Finn, I was in love with Ben…Ben Solo,"
Whatever answer Finn was expecting, it hadn't been this. A look of stunned shock overtook his face. "How is that possible when you never spent time with him?" he asked. "I mean, you lived on Jakku, then you went to Ahch-To to meet Master Luke, and ever since then you've been partaking in missions with the Resistance. Not to mention I've seen you two battle each other with lightsabers twice,"
"It started on Ahch-To," Rey explained. "We became bonded through the Force. I could see Ben wherever he was, and he could see me. At first I loathed him-how could I look at him with anything but disgust after he'd killed Han? But I soon saw what was beyond the mask of Kylo Ren…someone who felt lost and alone, pushed over the edge by a deadly deed almost acted upon by his Master. And while I sat there on Ahch-To with a teacher who did not want me, I felt just as alone.
"When Ben killed Snoke, I thought Kylo Ren was gone forever; instead, he took the title of Supreme Leader," Rey thought back to the throne room. "He was taking a darkened path I would never follow. So I left,"
"But that wasn't the end of it," Finn guessed, thinking of how she'd told the Resistance he'd fought by her side on Exegol.
"I wounded him on Kef Bir," Rey said. "He would have died had I not healed him the way I healed that sand worm. The next time I saw him was on Exegol, where he fought by my side against Palpatine," Rey bit her lip, trying her hardest not to let her emotions spill over. "Finn, when we fought Palpatine, I died in that chamber. And Ben brought me back by trading his life for mine,"
Finn's face was a mixture of emotions, ranging from shock to pain. "I..I understand how he could be considered admirable after his actions on Exegol," he finally said. "But for the life of me I cannot see how you ever chose him, not after all he'd done with the First Order,"
"I don't think words alone can ever express everything that happened," Rey admitted.
"But he was the ENEMY," Finn suddenly burst out. "Need I remind you of all the terrible things the First Order has done across the galaxy? How I was taken away from my family to become a soldier in an army?"
"That was not Ben's doing,"
"No, but he was guilty by association the moment he joined of his own free will," Finn shook his head. "I can't believe this…tell me you're joking, please,"
"Finn…I'm sorry," It was all Rey was able to say.
"Listen…I should go," Finn said upon having trouble looking her in the eyes. "Poe will be calling the meeting soon, so you'll want to keep your comlink nearby," He left without another word.
Rey felt her heart breaking, as if it was trying to tear its way out of her chest. And yet, at the same time, she didn't blame Finn in the slightest for his reaction. He had not been there to witness what she had, nor had he been the one to experience Ben's sacrifice.
"You did the right thing by telling him," Rey heard Ben say behind her. Turning, she saw his blue-tinted image standing behind her, a sympathetic expression on his face.
"But at what cost?" Rey asked as she sat down on her cot.
"It was the truth, and that is reason enough,"
Rey looked at the door, still open after Finn's departure. "I hope he will be able to forgive me,"
"I may not know your friend well," Ben said as he took a seat next to her, "But he doesn't seem the type to hold grudges. He probably just needs time to take the information in,"
"Maybe I should have told him sooner," Rey mused aloud. "Explained what had happened after he and I reunited on Crait,"
Rey felt something brush her shoulders. She winced, not sure what was happening, but realized Ben was placing a blanket around her shoulders.
"Your fingers," Rey suddenly gasped. "I can feel the outline of your hand through the blanket!"
Ben paused, astonished at this revelation. "You can feel my touch?"
"Not your touch per se," Rey said, "Only the pressure you've applied from the blanket,"
Rey wanted to find comfort in this newfound fact, but it only made her miss Ben more. She wanted him here to hold her while she touched his tangible body. But Ben's spirit was in a realm she could not reach there while Rey remained in the physical galaxy, together yet on different layers of reality.
The audio from Rey's comlink crackled. "Attention," Poe's voice came from the device, "An emergency meeting will be held in exactly ten minutes. Please report to room A557 in Sector B,"
"I'm sorry," Rey apologized as she slowly rose to her feet. "I have to go,"
Ben picked up the comlink with his translucent blue fingers and handed it to her. "Be careful," he said. "You and the rest of the Resistance will be going up against things of which the galaxy has never seen before,"