AN: Thanks for the follows, favorites and review! You guys rock! Sorry, for the delay. I have already written the whole story (approx. 14 chapters)...I'm just rewriting it...so their meeting with Rey won't be until in the next chapter...
The next chapter shouldn't be too far behind...this was more like a very super silly extra...
KR=Kylo Ren.
Chapter three - A mother (always) knows best
Thanks to Poe's insistence on using his broken x-wing, never mind the fact Ben has already borrowed another shuttle and is going to use that one, they have to wait for the stubborn pilot to fix his ship before they can begin the search for Poe's droid that is harboring the map.
While he and Finn wait for Poe to finish repairing, Lor San Tekka invite them to his hut and Ben is relieved to get away from the prying eyes of the villagers who are hard at work rebuilding the village after having put out all the fire and they stare after him like they are dreaming. He can hardly blame them as he still can't believe what he had done or rather was capable of doing, casting Kylo Ren to the back of his mind into the shadows where he belongs.
Finn takes a nap in the back of the hut and doesn't even bother to take off his armor, as the excitement from the battle and big changes have really wore him out. Ben thinks it is a wise call, the nap not sleeping in the heavy armor, as they have no idea how long time that search will take. However, Ben also knows it is too risky for him to sleep,for two reasons, one they aren't out of danger yet and two, he can't trust Kylo Ren not to use the opportunity and take control again.
As Ben doesn't go to sleep, he sits cross-legged on the hard floor and has to settle for Lor San Tekka staring at him with his annoying I know everything smile, he remembers somewhat from the past.
KR: You are perfectly safe to sleep...I would never take over like that. You were the one who took control...and made everything a mess.
I don't trust you...and why is everything so familiar here?
KR: You really don't remember?
The old man gives him some strange familiar unappetising stew in a bowl and then to make matters worse, he draws a com-link from his pocket and buzzes it.
"General?"
"Yes? Did you give Poe the map?"
Ben's heart nearly stops when he recognizes his mother's voice. He coughs violently and not just because of the spicy inedible food he has been served.
That old coot! I'm not ready to talk her yet! He always just does whatever he wants!
He glares daggers at the old man, who just smiles at him as if he is the most unthreatening man in existence right now and explains to his mother how things have changed.
After thinking it over logically instead of running outside the hut as Ben most wants at the moment or throw the hot food in Lor San Tekka's face, he figures it could make some things easier if the rebellion knows he isn't longer an enemy and anyways they would've soon found out his betrayal to the First Order when they put a search warrant for him. Though that doesn't mean he isn't very nervous over her reaction.
"Let me get this straight, my son did all of these...heroic...things. You are sure that it was him?" Asks his mother after Lor San Tekka had finished his story.
Is it really that hard to believe that I can be a hero?
KR: Hero...? More like an idiot...
Ben is too nervous to retort to Kylo's insult, while he does his best to beat down his survival instinct to not flee outside when hearing his mother's voice.
"Positive, I have him with me." The old man smiles at Ben, who sits nervously across from him and has lost all appetite and he adds teasingly: "Don't you think I know the kid, I used to babysit him, remember? That mask didn't fool me for one minute."
Ben hides the helmet behind him, as if it would figuratively put all of his past behind him.
A deadly silence is on the line as his mother thinks it over.
Oh, right...I had...tried to forget about that. No wonder he could see through me like this...though I hated that time, it was so boring, staying in this hut with nothing to do...and sometimes he went on a hermit adventures and instead of taking me with him, he left me with a boring villager...who also went on adventure and left me with another villager who...
I remember now I hate this village...
KR: I was going to burn it down for you...
On the other hand...hate is a strong word...
"May I speak with him?" His mother asks finally a bit forcefully, kind of like in her, he's in big trouble voice that Ben hates so much and she usually used when she heard about how he had broken furniture at one of his babysitter's house, in pure rage over being left behind by his parents...once again.
No, not yet! I haven't found the map...to earn...at least some of her forgiveness!
"Of course." Lor San Tekka hands the com-link to Ben who looks at the small device as if it is a thermal detonator. " I will give you two some privacy." He blinks him and goes outside.
KR: I knew I should've have cut that meddling fool down...
"Ben...?" asks his mother on the line, Ben knows he has to cross if he plans on staying on the lightside for real.
KR: You know, you can still turn back. You don't have to do this. You can just tell the supreme leader this was all one heatstroke, everyone would understand, with that dark outfit in the desert and wearing a mask on top of it!
I've come too far to turn back now...
"Ben...are you there?"
KR: You will regret this, trust me...don't do this...
I'm never trusting you again...and besides you're wrong, wearing black is good in heat as it keeps the skin cool, so your explanation doesn't work!
KR: Okay, I kind of knew that...but the helmet...
It feels like being in a oven, that's true...
"Please answer me...this better not be another...awful prank, Lor San Tekka!" Shouts his mother furiously.
Another?
As much as Ben would like to get the old man in trouble even though he clearly still known as a troublemaker, he can't bear to hear the anguish in his mother' s voice any longer, so he utters two simple words he hadn't said in at least six years. "Hi...mom."
Now there is only silence on the other line.
Is she crying...? Did she faint? Did she have a heart attack...?
"Mom...?"
"On your six year old birthday what did you find in my closet?" She asks him in her commanding voice.
Ben looks shocked at the comm-link, only his mother could recover so soon after earth shattering news and for a moment feels like he's in a cold interrogation room instead of a warm cozy hut...despite the strange opening question. It doesn't take him a long while to recover from the shock as he knows full well what his mother is doing, though that doesn't mean he wants to take any part in it.
"I'm not playing this game..." he says through clenched teeth.
We don't have time for this!
"You could be an imposter. I haven't seen you since you were ten years old," she says firmly.
You mean not since the time you send me to train with uncle Luke...
His mom always had an abnormal fear of losing him, of him being kidnapped and even some imposter to takes his place, so they had a list of security questions to answer in the worst case scenario.
KR: For someone who was never around, she sure was afraid of losing you...
But she never planned on me having enough of her controlling me from afar and leave on my own...but that is the past, this is now.
Ben rolls his eyes and exhales loudly before muttering shamefully: "Fine...your...slave bikini...which you wore when you killed Jabba the Hut."
That should convince her...there is no way anyone else...outside the family...would know about her still keeping it!
"What do you think sucks the most?"
"More questions...mom...?"
"I'm waiting."
She must be thinking about what I told her when I was about ten...
"The Jedi code."
Though I still think it sucks.
KR: At least we still agree on that.
"What are your favorite colors?"
"Black and red."
"Technically black isn't a color, but the answer is right," correct his mother, always a stickler for details.
"Are you finished...?"
"What did you call me when you were very small and you could hardly talk?"
"No, I'm not saying it...ever."
"Then I won't believe you."
"Fine...mamsy..."
"Correct...sweetie."
He can just imagine her grinning at him, as she has him just where she wants him...at her mercy.
She's enjoying this way too much! This is pure torture! She must be satisfied now...she can't not be...
A silence on the line and then: "What is your...?"
And on and on it went, Ben had never been in as a thorough and awful interrogation and it didn't even help that he went to sit in a comfortable chair beside a fireplace. His brain feels fried after the endless questionnaire.
I don't remember it being this long! Will she never believe me?
KR: Nope, you better just head back to the First Order. This was all a mistake anyway...
"So it's true...it's you...you have..." asks his mother in a broken voice like she's on the verge of crying.
"Yes, I've come back."
About time, she was convinced!
KR: Damn...but how can you be so sure she isn't a imposter?
Idiot, she wouldn't know so many embarrassing things about me if she wasn't.
KR: Just checking...not fair that she gets to ask you all these questions...
I'm too tired to interrogate her...
"How...no, it doesn't matter. At last...I knew..." she says in a stunned voice.
She asked me a lot of stupid questions but not about things that really matter...? Well at least I remember what things are important.
"I will bring you the map," he says with finality.
There I've said the things I had to tell her.
"Don't worry about it. I just want you home."
Ben stares in disbelief at the comm-link.
Why is she just acting like I've been lost in woods or something? Isn't she...the slightest mad at me for everything I did?
"What do you mean...what about uncle Luke?" He leans over comm-link and whispers the last word, as if she had forgotten why she is looking for that map in the first place.
"It's not yours to worry about."
"Even though I'm the reason he's in hiding in the first place?" He reminds her of the cruel reality.
Things won't be so easy...
An awkward silence ensues following that statement, until his mother clear her throat: "I...It doesn't matter any more. It's in the past...we will find your uncle, don't worry."
"No, I insist, that's the least I can do."
His mother sighs, knowing how stubborn he is and says sternly: "Fine, but be very careful...I don't want to lose you..ever again."
"You won't."
KR: Don't promise something you can't keep...
"Please hurry...I can't wait to see you again," says his mother in her most sweet voice, mostly reserved for him.
He pause for a second and then he replies: "Me..too..."
And I mean it.
"Aw, how sweet." Poe decides to walk in the hut at the precise moment. He grins and rubs his oily on a small towel. "I didn't know you had this side to you."
Ben's face becomes three shades of red and he quickly turns his back to him. Did this guy just have to eavesdrop...so embarrassing...!
"Is Poe there? I need to talk to him..." says his mother, but Ben turns his attention to Poe instead and snaps at him in authoritative voice, desperate to regain his dignity: "Did you finish repairing?"
Poe just smiles at him:" Yep, we are all ready to go."
Finally...
"I said I need to talk to..." Ben puts the comm-link into his pocket muffling the sound but doesn't turn it off.
"Let's go then." He takes a step forward, but Poe stops him by holding up a hand. "Where is Finn? You didn't eat him?" He frowns at the bowl of untouched food sitting on the floor.
"Are you blind? He's sleeping over there!" Ben points where Finn is sleeping in the back and who has been sleeping soundly during everything, as he is used to having to be able to sleep through explosions and what not. He doesn't even stir despite the shouting.
"You are so much fun to tease." Poe walks over to Finn and pushes him super gently. "Wake up Sleeping beauty."
If I was asleep he would probably kick me in the face...of course I would do the same...
Finn still doesn't stir.
"Did you drug him?" asks Poe concerned and Ben scoffs: "No, why don't you just try to kiss him...?"
"Is that how you do it in the First Order?" asks Poe seriously, unfazed by the question and Ben, who gets angry over the quick retort, snaps at him: "Just...fuck you Poe!"
"With pleasure." Poe smiles at him like he's nothing but a little kid throwing harmless dirt at him.
I can't beat this guy...
"LET ME SPEAK WITH POE NOW!" shouts his mother from Ben's pocket. He and Poe jump startled up as they had forgot she was still on the line. Even Finn wakes up and looks disoriented.
"Wha...First order!?" Finn looks around alarmed but Poe shakes his head. "No, just the resistance."
"Huh?" asks Finn in groggy voice while Ben takes the comm-link from his pocket and stares at it suspiciously: "What for...?"
"None of your business, I need to talk to him," she snaps at him, clearly still angry over him throwing her into her pocket when she was still talking.
She must want to talk about the map after all...or some other resistance stuff.
Ben throws the comm-link to Poe who catches it easily despite the suddenness of the throw and the fact that he used the force. Ben is disappointed he managed to grab it as he was hoping to see him scrambling like a fool on the floor after it.
"Yes, general?" Asks Poe in his most serious resistance voice. "Wait, just minute." He waves Ben away but Finn misunderstand his hand gesture and goes outside instead to Poe's dismay, while Ben stubbornly stays.
"Go outside now..." Poe waves him outside, but Ben ignores him.
Na, ah, I'm listening in even though this is some top secret resistance information...
KR: Now we are talking...it might come in handy later...
I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it because I'm tired of mom keeping me out of everything...like lying about who grandfather was...
KR: Oh...right...
"Ben is still there?" asks his mother in so tired voice that Ben gets a tiny bit guilty for being one of the reasons she is exhausted and is about to go outside after all, when Poe answers: "Yes, but I can get rid of him..." He puts the comm-link on a table, rolls up his sleeve and walks over to Ben as he plans on pushing him outside and all of Ben's guilt evaporates immediately.
KR: If he touches us, I will cut him down with my lightsaber..
Ben reaches for his lightsaber in his belt and Poe backs away with the expression of mission aborted.
"Woah, calm down...there fella..." He looks for help from the comm-link while trying to soothe Ben like he's a wild animal.
"No, it's okay, he can stay,...it concerns him anyway," continues his mother in her tired voice.
Me?
"How so?" Poe picks up the comm-link from the table.
"You are to make sure my son is safe," commands his mother which makes Ben's eyes go wide in surprise.
What the?!
"Will do general..." Poe doesn't get any further ast Ben rips the comm-link from him, outraged. "Mom, I don't need the resistance to protect me. I'm far more powerful than some lousy pilot..."
"I'm not lousy," says Poe in a hurt voice.
"You don't have the force, making you lousy, for instance you will never be as good as grandpa..."
Ben doesn't get any further as his mother says in a frosty voice: "You do as I say or I will pick you up personally and you can forgot all about searching for the map."
Even though Ben can feel his mother's stern glare through the comm-link, he just scoffs at the empty threat: "Come on, we both know, you are far too busy for that...you always were too busy for me...saving the galaxy always came first, no wonder I tried to wreck it...the only way to get your undivided attention...!"
Oh, no I didn't say that outloud...!
KR: Yes, you did.
I'm dead...
Poe's stunned expression says the same thing and he shakes his head in silent disbelief.
"Then I will just contact your father and have him pick you up, do you want that?" She asks him knowing full well how that suggestion makes him feel...sick to his stomach...
"No...mom...I will follow your commands..."
Not that she even knows where he is, as usual...
"Good...and we will talk...later about your attempt to the wreck the galaxy..."
She means yelling...at me...
"Yes, mam." He bows his head even though she can't see that gesture.
"But it would be so cool if Han Solo came." Poe has dreamy look in his eyes.
"Why?" Ben glares at him.
He will kill me for turning to darkside...though of course Poe would like that...
"He's my hero," replies Poe happily.
Figures...they are both as annoying...but he will get over his worshipping, just as I did when he sees how he really is...not that I want him to meet him...
"Sadly, I don't know where he is...oops...I mean...umm..." his mother clears his throat awkwardly.
I knew it was just another empty threat from her.
"He's probably just smuggling or something...what do I care...or looking for the Falcon, he still hasn't found it has he?" asks Ben with a false bravado.
"True...your father seems to keep losing things most precious to him..."
He has lost something more than the Falcon?
Ben stares at Poe as if he would know the answer to what his father had lost, who looks as confused as him.
"Not Chewie...? Did he forgot him on some planet? How senile is he becoming?!" Ben imagines poor Chewie growling somewhere sadly in the wilderness...though when he think better about it, Chewie would most likely be able to save himself...
"You know exactly what I mean," retorts his mother and he can hear how she shakes her head over how thick he can be.
"No, I don't," he snaps back at her.
Stop speaking in half-truths!
"But I really wish I knew where your father is...he would be so glad to hear that you've finally come to your senses."
Ben snorts. "Glad...? He will bite my head off for betraying you in the first place..."
And being a huge disappointment...not that he had any hopes for me anyway...
"I would so like to see that...not literally though, general..." Poe laughs awkwardly and Ben scowls at him.
And mom trust this guy to keep me safe?
"No he wouldn't...in a way, I think it broke him more than me," says his mother in mysterious voice which angers Ben more and he rants: "What's that supposed to mean? Then why didn't you try to come after me? Why did you just let me go? Why were you never there when I needed you?!"
Whoa where did that come from...? I'm starting to think everything out loud?!
KR: I can still take over if you like. Seems to me your way out of your depth here...
"Kid, we don't have time for your family drama right now." Poe puts a hand on his shoulder.
Kid...only one other person calls everyone that despite their age...and that is my least favourite person right now, well except Snoke...Poe is the third worst...
"Kid? What are you, two years older than me or something?" Ben moves away from him.
"No, I'm not seven, I'm much older than that." Poe smirks.
I hate this guy so much...
Before Ben can come with a smart comeback, his mother buzzes over the comm-link: "Poe, is right. We will talk...later. You've to go now. Be careful of the routes you take on your way here."
As in don't be a idiot and turn back to the darkside...
"Fine...I will be careful..." Ben hands the comm-link back to Poe.
"Good," says his mother relieved.
"I will also find the map and bring it and...your...prodigal son to you. We also have a defected trooper with us." Poe smiles at Finn, who stands outside the window, not far from the hut and is talking animatedly about something with Lor San Tekka, who has returned from whatever he was doing and just nod his head to whatever Finn is saying.
"Great, I wish the First Order would just all join us to end this war...but I know that's just wishful thinking...Ben you will obey Poe at all times," his mother tries to squeeze the last bit in a bit carelessly.
No way!
Ben rips the comm-link back from Poe who sighs.
"I will never obey the resistance...except you of course...but that's only because you are my mom and has nothing to do with resistance...I will never obey this guy!" He points angrily at Poe, who shrugs, even though his mother can only hear them but not see.
"I don't care what you think, you are under his care now. This is his new mission," says his mother in her no-nonsense voice.
I'm just some stupid mission...no wait...this is worse than that...
"Mom. I'm an adult now. I don't need a babysitter..." Ben turns away with the comm-link and whispers those words in the hope that Poe couldn't hear them.
"I beg to differ. You do need a babysitter," says his mother way too loudly, making Poe chuckle.
Ben, who has had enough of this farce, snatches his saber up, turns it on menacingly and in one swift motion cuts through the table that falls loudly to the ground. Poe stares shocked at the two halves of the broken innocent furniture, as if Ben is about to chop him down next.
Finn and Lor San Tekka, who heard the ruckus and look in their direction. Finn stares in surprise while Lor San Tekka runs a hand tiredly over his face, most likely remembering a similar sight when he babysitted him long time ago.
A bit of revenge for how the old man treated me then and now...and sure helped to scare that annoying rebel a bit...
"And Poe you are also to be arriving here safely. No, trying to ditch him...maim or...kill him, Ben, you are on the same team now."
"And how do you plan on stopping me?" He asks her in a challenging voice.
"If you do anything to harm him or anyone else on your way here, I swear... I will snap your lightsaber in two," his mother says viciously.
"Yes, mam." Ben sighs defeated and turns off his beloved saber, knowing full from a bitter experience that at least this is not an empty threat, as she was never above destroying his toys to teach him a harsh lesson.
"I'm in charge now." Poe flashes him a winning smile.
Rebelscum...
Lor San Tekka walks quickly inside, with Finn fast behind and fixes Ben with a stern look: "Ben, you know the drill." He points at a corner.
"What are you talking about...no..." Ben glances aghast between the broken table and the old man.
"You know, you never get to destroy my personal property without some consequences. Corner now." Lor San Tekka points at him and then at the corner.
Ben looks to Poe whose lips twitch as he tries to keep a serious face and not laugh at him. "He's right you know, you really need to control your temper."
Finn nods in agreement.
Traitor...
Ben figures that it is quicker to just admit defeat in this battle, if he ever wants to leave that stupid hut and walks to the corner.
I hate everything...
KR: Look at the bright side, this can't possibly get any worse...
Shut up Kylo...
KR: I'm only trying to help...
Well, don't...
KR: Fine, don't come crying to me for help...
Ben zones him out as he stares into the corner as he used to do way too often in his childhood and mediates in order to keep calm and don't go on a murdering rampage...again...
"I've long since arrived and I'm checking out the the latest deals in the market. I've also hooked up with some girl and we are getting married. Where are you slowpokes?" Buzzes Poe over his comlink.
Show off.
"It's not a race..." answers Ben while he carefully pilots the borrowed shuttle he got from the old coot. He is not used to the seemly ancient controls and is not about to crash the shuttle in the middle of the desert, by making a careless mistake.
If I had my own shuttle, I would have beaten that bastard pilot in speed...but someone had to destroy the control panels.
KR: You annoyed me and...you could've repaired it.
The shuttle would've called for too much attention.
KR: Then why are you blaming me for wrecking stuff, you weren't even planning on using? You're always so mean to me...
Ben ignores his whining and focuses on flying instead. The trio or well Ben and Poe, as poor Finn woke up fully rested from his power nap without knowing the full story of what had transpired between them and just followed their lead, decided to fly to Niima Outpost and ask for information about the droid in the hope that the droid had found it's way to civilization and they wouldn't need to scan the desert for it. Ben is really optimistic about that being the case as in don't underestimate a droid, was something his mother used to say.
"Yes, it is a race...against time! Thanks to your latest tantrum, the First Order will be an even harder pain in the ass to deal with. Though they should be used to your teenage mood swings about now."
Ben can nearly hear Poe smirk through the com-link.
Smartass.
It's been a long time since anyone had dared to speak to Ben in that way, so he had to admit he was out of practice and not his best game, were it came to good comebacks.
Except Hux. I could always be snarky with him...but that was different...
KR: Well, for starters, they were my comebacks and you know why, you have trouble with answering Poe...all that bickering, all that judging, reminds of you of certain someone...doesn't it?
Ben shuts the communication. He can't deal with any more of Poe's "jokes."
If only I could turn of the voice in my head, as easily...
KR:You will never get rid of me...
Poe probably thinks I have gone rogue and will yell at me as soon as we land. Not, that I care.. despite mom having put him in charge over me...like I'm some little kid that can't take care of myself!
KR: What did you expect? She has always been so controlling...don't admire your cool grandfather, no turning to the darkside where all the fun is...be a boring Jedi instead who can't even marry...
That's not why I turned to the darkside...
KR: No, you did that...to get her attention...
Perhaps...a small bit...
KR: At least that's what you told her...
Don't remind me...
KR: Though to be honest I thought this conversation would be way worse...I excepted more yelling.
The yelling will come later.
KR: Oh...glad I'm not in your shoes...
No you are just in my head...
KR: For now...
Forever...
Despite his mother's strict commands and threat, Ben gets the most satisfaction out of prolonging the journey to Niima Outpost as long as possible, just to annoy Poe. Even though it could lead to Poe's capture by the First Order and therefore his only way...for now to the resistance. But somehow he didn't care, he would figure something else out. He would just make up some very convincing sob-story to tell his mom so he wouldn't take his head off or breaking his saber, for losing one of her precious rebels to the First Order.
KR: That's a very darkside thinking.
No! Just self...perseverance.
KR: Whatever you say...
Finn sits nervously behind him in the shuttle despite having no clue about the internal struggle in his former command officer. He is no longer wearing his armour, just the black clothes underneath it plus Poe's jacket, which he gave him before their departure, so you have something else than these vile First Order clothes, as Poe called them. The pilot was awfully overprotective of the defected trooper and wanted him to go with him in his X-wing where there were there only seats for two, but Ben refused and wanted him to go with him instead. He didn't trust Poe not to escape with the trooper, despite his generals commands as Poe could make up some convincing lie about how he lost him and get into a lot of trouble, maybe even be demoted or sacked from the resistance, if there is such a thing...
Maybe I should disappear to get Poe into trouble with his general...but Poe would probably just blame me and mom would of course just believe him, meaning I would get into trouble...even more than I'm already in...
Ben groans. I better just stick with the plan and get this stupid search over with.
And as Poe has seemed to grown fond of the defected trooper, it gives Ben some insurance that Poe won't ditch them the first opportunity he get, if he keeps him close as he know he has to be one step ahead of his...old enemy. Not to mention, that Finn is Ben's only link to the First Order and for a moment it seems like he is just on another First Order mission instead of having turned out-right traitor. It makes everything seem a little bit bearable, taking the change in small steps in changing his life, instead of the giant leap, he has already taken.
KR: Yes, because talking with the leader of the rebellion is perfectly normal for a commanding officer of the First Order...stop fooling yourself...
It could've been just a personal call, not a work one...
KR: You can never go back now...except in chains...
Suits me just fine.
Although Finn is wary of the big changes in Kylo Ren, now Ben, he didn't object and went with him, probably because of how used he is to follow orders from his superior officers and for it Ben felt a tiny bit of guilt...or maybe Finn, also thought it helped to have some familiarity with him to adjust to the big change...maybe. Of course Poe was far from happy with Finn's decision but he accepted it, however not without glaring at Ben for keeping on using the newly freed trooper.
"Umm..." Finn asks in low voice, drawing Ben from his thoughts.
"You can call me Ben, Finn."
"Okay...Ben, shouldn't we be getting as far away from the First Order as possible? I mean..."
"That map can't end up in the hands of the First Order."
"Okay...umm, Ben...?"
"Yes...?"
"How come you suddenly changed your mind about...well everything? Did you hit your head or something? I mean it's good that your are umm good now...I'm just curious."
KR: The same could be said about you. How come you decided to ditch everything in your training...you traitor!
Ben ignores Kylo Ren tirade."Do you know anything about the force? About the dark and the light side?"
"A little."
"Well, I am light-side now."
KR: You make it sound like it's a cola drink...
"Okay, cool...but, does that mean that you can turn anytime back to the dark-side?"
"I'm never turning back."
KR: That's what you think...
Ben clutches his fist."Never."
"Okay...cool." Finn doesn't sound overly convinced. "How come you didn't want any disguise back in the village?"
I won't throw away everything yet...I'm not even used walking around without a robe...that Snoke forced me to use...to make me as uncomfortable as possible to better dip into the darkside...
KR: It did help though...
"It could work to our advantage."
"But it will be awfully hot, sir...eh Ben...that is under the helmet."
"I won't be wearing the helmet."
"You won't...?"
Should I just leave it here? It's so heavy. But it might come in handy if I have scare people away. But at the same time I don't want to draw too much attention, I better hide it...along with my saber...
At long last they land in Niima Outpost spaceport. Ben parks the shuttle next to Poe's X-wing, who to his dismay has not yet been captured and instead leans on his ship and glares at him with folded arms as if he's about to lecture him big time...or call his mom.
I will just lie that I got lost on the way on here, everything looks the same in the desert...and the comm-link broke...
KR: I seriously doubt he will believe you...
"You." Poe stalks over to Ben the minute he leaves his shuttle and pokes him hard in the chest. "Why did you turn of the comm-link? Too afraid of the truth...?" Poe stops his scolding the minute he lays eyes on the former trooper behind him. "Finn, glad to see you in one piece." Poe smiles at him.
"Same to you," answers Finn shyly.
"I won't harm him." Ben glares at Poe who points him even harder in the chest. "You better not or I am telling your dad on you."
Where did that come from? It's not like he knows him. Does he? Huh, why should I care...? But he could report to mom...
Ben just shakes his head and says in his commanding voice, despite the fact that Poe was made the leader: "Let's split up and ask for some information..."
"I already found my droid. It's with a girl." Poe grins victoriously and leads the way quickly through the crowded marketplace, past all the tented stalls.
Well, that was quick...
"A girl?" Finn runs to keep up with him.
"What girl?" asks Ben but he is in no hurry to catch up with them, forcing Poe to slow down a little.
None of the scavengers pay them any special mind and go about their business as usual, no one seems to realize Kylo Ren is strolling casually through there and only think he is some guy dressed funny.
KR: Well technically that is true.
Good thing I hid the helmet, it would've caused panic otherwise. Ben claps on the pouch on his back, where he hid the helmet.
Too bad it's so heavy...
"How should I know. I'm not from around here. Are you even into girls?" Poe waits for Ben to catch up and is annoyed that Ben is forcing them to go at his slow pace.
"Yes."
Poe looks genuinely surprised. "Well, that's surprising."
"Why is that surprising?" Asks Ben darkly when he catches up with them and Poe just shrugs, infuriating him further.
KR: Well, I'm not or wait, it's complicated. I like Phasma too.
Too...wait have you ever seen her without the helmet?
KR: No and like the mystery, besides she has not seen me without it either...
Ben shakes his head. I've never understand your mask fetish...wait, what guy are you into? Don't tell me it's...?!
"What about you Finn?" Poe turns to Finn, who blinks in surprise as if he hadn't been following the conversation at all and was too busy looking in every corner for any sign of the First Order. "Huh?" Finn blinks in surprise.
"What are your preferences?" asks Poe again.
Finn looks deep in thought. "Um...I don't know...I haven't had any chance...girls I think..."
Poe shakes his head. "Rotten First Order."
I won't waste any more time for this locker room talk...
"Why haven't you retrieved your droid since you already found it?" snarls Ben at Poe.
What's the point in leading us to it...unless he just wants to annoy me...? Or prank..or trap me!
"Well, this girl seems overly protective of it..." explains Poe.
"How so?" asks Finn before Ben has a chance to.
"She just took two guys down who tried to snatch him with her stick. It might take some convincing to get it from her...even though it's my droid," replies Poe.
"You are afraid of her?" Ben shakes his head in disbelief. "The mighty Poe is afraid of a little girl."
"Never underestimate a woman's wrath," says Poe seriously and Ben passes him, taking the lead. "Well then...we must go and convince her."
Do I have to do everything around here?
KR: You miss your loyal subjects.
Do not.
Rey walks steadily through the bustling market. She has been alone for as long as he could remember, trying to survive in desert by being a scavenger, hoping one day for the return of her family.
The little BB-8 unit rolls beside her and is trying to get back to his owner, who had promised to come for him. Rey was going to make sure he would go back home safely.
I sure hope his owner keeps his promise to return for him, or I will hunt him down...as long as he is on Jakku...
Suddenly BB-8 chirps happily.
"What? Your owner is already here?"
Well, that was quick...kind of anticlimactic...! I was hoping for a little bit of adventure...more than just having to beat off Unkar Plutt's thugs, but that's nothing unusual...but of course as long as the adventure takes only place here on Jakku...I can't leave. It would be so typical if my family would return the minute I have left the planet!
Rey is startled from her thoughts when the droid starts to chirp in anxiety.
"What! He's with your biggest enemy? Is he a prisoner or something?"
That's more like it...though I hope his owner isn't in some awful peril...I better rescue him before he's taken away here!
Rey looks in the direction of BB8's panic and pets him. "Don't worry."
I will protect you and save your owner.
She dashes towards a black clothed man with vengeance in mind, with BB8 rolling after her, equally as mad.
Next up: The (new) meeting of Rey and Ben...
