"I can explain!" Rey exclaimed, horrified that she had carelessly exposed Ben's secret. "You better explain!" Finn shouted, disgusted with Rey. "You've been acting not like yourself lately, and I want to know why." "You wouldn't understand, Finn," Rey cried, emotionally exhausted. "He's an old friend of Leia's, and he needs to be kept hidden from both the Resistance and the First Order, or else he will be killed." "What's his name, then?" Finn questioned. "I can't tell you that for fear of his safety," Rey replied, sadly. She knew that Finn didn't believe her, but she couldn't risk exposing the truth about Ben and the General, as well as the truth about her lineage. Quickly, Rey dragged Finn into a hug, using the force to sedate him. Suddenly, Finn lay fast asleep on the ground, and Rey was out of sight.
I have to act quickly, Rey thought to herself. She needed to disable the tracker on her ship, alert Ben to evacuate Naboo for Chandrila, and alert Connix that she had to leave because Finn found out about her "friend". Rushing to Red Five, she worked quickly to disable the tracker. Calling Connix, Rey whispered, "I've been caught. Make sure you don't tell anyone about this. I'm evacuating Naboo and heading for another planet with Ben. May the force be with you." Closing the transmission, the tracker was finally removed, so Rey boarded Red Five and set off for Chandrilla...
"Rey, I sense there's something wrong. What's going on?" "You need to leave Naboo and meet me on Chandrila. Finn found out that I wasn't alone on Naboo, but he doesn't know its you. Naturally, I'd like to keep it that way." "I'm on my way. Rey, there's something I need to tell you." "What is it?" "You know when you pleaded with me that day in the throne room, I wanted to go back. I wanted to see my mother. But, I knew I couldn't face her or the Resistance. But that was Kylo Ren, who was weak and foolish like Snoke. I am Ben Solo. I need to be forgiven by them, Rey. I need to face the justice I deserve. You need to turn me in." "I can't do that" "You have to trust me, Rey. This will be the only way we can find peace. They will hunt you down forever, Rey. It's because they know I'm alive, and they think you've been corrupted by the dark side. I need you to be safe, Rey. I love you." "I know."...
Changing course, Rey altered her navigation systems and headed back for Ajan Kloss. Paging Connix, Rey explained, "Ben's turning himself in." "They'll likely call for his execution," Connix stuttered, horrified. "I was very close to the General, and I know she tried to prepare us for his return, but there are many people in the Resistance that wouldn't understand what Ben has endured. Hopefully he's punished less severely since he aided the Resistance at the Battle of Exogul. Let us pray they show him mercy." Distressed by this news, Rey sought to be first to the base, to ease Ben's arrival and to hopefully persuade Finn that Kylo was no more. She needed time.
Arriving back at base, she was immediately confronted by Finn. "What the hell is going on, Rey?" Finn asked, fuming. "You know that friend I was talking about. He was a leader in the First Order, but he defected at the Battle of Exogul, and helped turn the tide of the battle in our favor. He helped me defeat Emperor Palpatine." "Then how was he an old friend of Leia's?" Finn asked, confused. "You'll see," Rey said, content. Rushing to Poe's office, Rey hoped to beat Finn and explain herself.
Reaching the general's office, Rey informed Poe, "We have a visitor from the First Order that has surrendered to the Resistance. He aided me on Exogul during the battle, and helped me defeat Emperor Palpatine. He was a high-ranking official in the First Order, so I pray you show him mercy." Poe replied, suspicious, "We'll see." As Rey and Poe finished their conversation, a Resistance officer burst into the room, declaring, "We are recieving transmissions from a TIE Whisper requesting landing. He says he is surrendering to the Resistance." "Send a squad from ground crew to monitor the landing and take our prisoner into custody," Poe replied. "Let's go meet our defector."
Landing on the rough terrain of Ajan Kloss, Ben prepared for the worst. After all, many of these people wanted him dead. "Ben," a familiar voice called out. "Mom?" Ben questioned. "I knew you could be strong enough to come home," Leia replied. Ben answered, tearfully, "I didn't get to say goodbye, but I suppose I deserve that." "Ben, don't be so hard on yourself, like Luke was," Leia implored. "Snoke was grooming you towards a dark path. You may have made some bad choices, but the blame is not entirely your own. You need to learn to forgive yourself." "Goodbye mother." Ben ended his conversation with his mother's ghost and finished landing procedures. Exiting the cockpit in a swift jump, Ben exclaimed, "Don't shoot, I'm unarmed and I surrender to the Resistance."
The ground crew was immediately overtaken with shock. The most powerful man in the galaxy had surrendered to the Resistance. Poe, ridden with shock, said, "You're coming with me, Kylo Ren." And within a mile walk to the cell block, the most powerful man in the galaxy was under strict surveillance by a ragtag group of Resistance personnel. Expecting Rey, Ben was distressed that his first visitor was the Resistance member he liked the least.
FN-2187. Finn.