AN: Thank you so much for the reviews, follows and favorites! You guys rock!

I had to divide the chapter again...but that just means that the next chapter will not be too far behind...


Chapter thirteen - Brothers bickering and father's care

The first thing Ben notices at their arrival, is that the cockpit in this ship, like pretty much the whole ship, but as he wasn't allowed to check out the area with the monsters, he wasn't sure about that part, is that it is crazy spacious and comfortable, kind of like a cockpit-lounge and not cramped like in the Falcon.

Inside there are two comfy sofas, opposite each other, for extra passengers, that surprisingly have white duvets and pillows in them, which are most likely reserved for longer journeys, when his father and Chewie have to take separate shifts, but at the moment, Finn is napping in one of them in the most comfort. Even the pilot seat, which Poe is currently sitting in, with BB-8 to his side and the co-pilot seat, which seems to be Chewie's seat for some reason, looks extra comfy and are nothing like the ones in the ancient Falcon. However, despite all the comfort, Ben still thinks the Falcon is way more homey, even though currently it is falling apart and is kind of a deathtrap to fly in today.

But why is Chewie the co-pilot? Sure, he has far more experience than the idiot Poe!

Ben really wants to kick Poe out of the pilot seat, but he resists the great temptation, even though Rey looks very jealous that Poe is flying the huge ship, as it is his dad's call who pilots it, so he leaves it to him, hoping for a good show when his father commands Poe to get the hell out of his seat...and also because he doesn't want to get into...even more trouble...by doing it himself...

At the back wall there are some containers. Ben has no idea what is kept in them, but he guesses that it must be food and something to drink, most likely alcohol, at least he can tell through the force that is nothing alive, which is reassuring as it's bad enough that the ship is already transporting some horrible monsters.

I hope they won't break loose...

KR: At least we have our saber to defend ourselves...

And everyone else...

KR: Just focus on keep yourself safe...if a monster gets loose, it's everyone for themselves! Don't play a hero, that will get us killed!

I didn't know you were such a coward!

KR: Coward?! I'm just trying to be the responsible one here! And didn't your dad forbid you to put you in harm's way? Just look, he hasn't even let go of your hand yet...even though you have reached the safety of the cockpit...


Ben looks down and to his wonder sees that Kylo is right, as his father still has his hand wrapped protectively around his wrist, even though they had long since arrived at their destination. His father stares eagerly at him, as if he's waiting for him to comment on the cockpit in the new ship, but since Ben had to wait for him to show up for twenty years, he gets some revenge in making him wait a little.

He's holding my wrist...not my hand...

KR: Big difference...

It is...if it was the hand, I would feel like a toddler...is he never going to let me go...? I better say something...about this ship...compare it and the Falcon...but, the Falcon wins, hands down!

"Nice ship, but it will never beat the Falcon," says Ben and he could just as well have given his father million credits, who smiles broadly and ruffles his hair affectionately with the none wrist holding hand.

Come on, let go of me already...! And stop petting me! I'm not a dog!

His gang, Rey, Poe and BB-8, as Finn is still napping, looks in disbelief at him for praising the Falcon like that, which in there is eyes is nothing more than a flying junk and they were lucky to even get this far, while Chewie looks happy over his words as well as his father and smiles thankfully at him.

They are so easy to please...

KR: Frightfully so...

"Thank you, son. I knew you would say that. Sit down and try to rest," his father finally lets go of his wrist and points at the unoccupied sofa with the duvet and the pillow, as if Ben had just come from a long journey, which is kind of true, since he had to get far away from the darkside.

Ben obeys, moves the duvet away and is surprised to feel how tired he really is, the minute he sits in the sofa. He nearly sinks into it and thinks seriously about following Finn's example and take a nap under the duvet, but as he feels guilty about taking up the whole sofa, he again, just like how he didn't kick Poe out of the pilot seat, resists temptation, as he is thinking about others...or well Rey, to be honest...

To his disappointment, Rey doesn't sit next to him, but instead chooses to stand behind Poe's seat to watch out the viewport, while occasionally glancing worried at Ben, most likely because of his head injury, she inflicted on him not too long ago.

Ben rubs his head, gives a thumbs up and smiles, just to try to alleviate her worries somewhat without his dad finding out she is the culprit behind it and he pats the seat next to him, to show her that there is no reason for her to stand. However, Rey doesn't look too convinced and bites her lower lip in worry and doesn't move to sit, but Ben still hopes she will do it eventually.

Hopefully soon...

KR: To be fair, I think the possibility of the monsters getting loose is way higher...or whatever danger is heading our way to get here first...

Well, if that is true, why can't they hurry up? I just want to take care of it, so I can take a nap. It's annoying having to wait for them! Whatever it is...

KR: True, waiting is torturous...

Why must I wait for every damn thing?!


Ben is so tired and bored, that he tries to escape boredom by lifting up one of his hands and spread the fingers to inspect the childish band-aid with Threepio and the ewoks, as it's not like he has anything better to do, while waiting for monsters to get loose, the approaching danger to come or for Rey sit next to him so they can chat and he can teach her about the force.

The band-aid starts hypnotizing him as he stares intently into it, at Threepio in the high seat and the ewoks, hitting drums around him and treating him like a god.

The pictures come alive to him and he can just hear Threepio's voice, shouting:"Oh, my goodness. What is happening?!"

Poor Threepio, always out of the loop. He probably doesn't even know I turned. I wonder where he is...I haven't seen him in years...I wonder if Artoo is with him now, since uncle went into hiding. The last time I saw Artoo was when I was killing the pupils or was it the Seven...?


Ben jolts up when a horrible memory is about to resurface and he grabs his head in panic, as if that could stop the memory from reappearing.

"Are you okay?" asks Rey worried.

KR: Okay...how the hell, did you manage to go from inspecting a kiddie-bandaid to killing?

It was because of the picture of Threepio on it! It made me think of Artoo which made me think of uncle which made me think of the...killings...

KR: And you wonder why the you fell so easily to the darkside...you're too gullible...

Well, I'm not falling again...

KR: It will happen...eventually...I will wait...for it...

Have fun waiting forever!

"Ben?" Rey looks even more worried than before and is about to sit next to him, but his father, who never even left his side, beats her to it, grabs his wrist and checks carefully under the band-aid and asks: "Is the wound getting any worse?" Like Ben had been checking that instead of just being hypnotized by the picture on it and being brought unwillingly back to his dark past...

"No, no, I'm fine," says Ben quickly, as he has no intention of telling his dad about the awful things he just relived...by looking at a kiddies-band-aid...

So mortifying!

"It looks okay. I was very careful not to touch the band-aid on our way here," says his father after having finished the inspection, as if the band-aid had been put on after some life saving surgery instead of just a small, mostly harmless, wound.

What...? Ben groans inwardly when he realizes that the reason his father didn't hold his hand was simply because of the band-aid was in the way, otherwise he wouldn't have hesitated to hold his hand like he was a toddler.

Is he ever going to treat me seriously?!

"What about your head?" asks his father and starts inspecting that instead, when in truth he should have started his investigation there as Ben was grabbing his head in obvious pain.

"It's fine..." says Ben not convincingly and moves away from his care.

"Let me know if it changes." His father stands up and pulls the duvet over him, though he is still sitting, before he heads to the pilot seat in the front.

Yes! Finally, he's going to kick Poe out of it!

Ben is happy to have a front row seat for it and to have something fun to take his mind of the killings of his past.

KR: Your dad won't kick him out...

Of course he will! Dad will not let some stranger fly his his ship! Especially not this stupid guy!

KR: You're the one who is stupid...


"No, no you can pilot for a while," say Han to Poe, when Poe immediately stands up so he can take the pilot seat again and Ben is so disappointed that his father didn't at least order him to get out of it, even though Poe did get out of it on his own, but is also baffled that his father is allowing someone else to fly his ship.

KR: I told you so...

I bet it would be different with the Falcon...

KR: Of course it would...everything is different with the Falcon...and you...

Me?

KR: Your dad doesn't want to share you...

What am I? A cookie?

KR: NO! Why are you always so damn thick!

I would rather be a thin...but a big cookie.

KR: Why do I even bother...?

You are always bothering me!

"Sure, mister Solo?" asks Poe and looks surprised, but still takes the seat again.

Mister Solo...? He really is buttering him up...

KR: If you are not careful your father might start comparing you two...why can't you be more like Poe...?

I will send Poe into space the minute it happens. That would solve the problem instantly as dad wouldn't be able to compare us anymore.

KR: Are you sure...you are not the evil one?

His father nods to Poe's question. "Positive, you seem to have the hang of it. Right, Chewie?"

Chewie looks a tiny bit annoyed to be stuck as the co-pilot, even though if he was really against it, he could just threaten to rip Poe's arms off or better, just rip them off!

Or maybe because Poe doesn't understand him, he had no idea Chewie told him in no uncertain terms to back off! Not, that Chewie would need any words to communicate when he doesn't like something...no, he must have been too polite as Poe is a "guest."

KR: You should follow his example...

"He's doing alright..." Chewie blinks Ben, who is happy to know Chewie doesn't seem to like that stuck pilot either and smiles back at him.

Chewie seems to want to get rid of him as well...

"What did he say?" Poe turns to Rey for translation, which gives Ben an evil idea how to get him to leave the pilot seat, so he is far quicker than her to answer and says with a straight face: "He said your feet smell as terrible as the insides of a TaunTaun."

Chewie snorts, Rey frowns at Ben for that childish joke, his father shakes his head sternly, even though he gave him that inspiration when he told him many years ago, that inside of a TaunTaun is the worst smell he knows, as he had found out, when had to cut one open, to save his uncle from freezing to death on Hoth by putting him inside of it.

It takes a while for Poe to get that very detailed insult as he furrows his brows in confusion and tries to imagine what that must be like.

KR: You can't even insult a rebelscum without your father's help...

"Hey! You didn't say that...did you Chewie?" Poe looks between Chewie and Ben when at last he has finished his analysis of that very strange insult and managed to bring up some kind of an image of it in his head.

Chewie just laughs wholeheartedly along with Ben, while Rey and his father and even BB-8, frowns at him.

KR: Such a lame joke...

Would you rather I've said that his feet smell as bad as Snoke's rotting corpse?

KR: What! That's outrageous! How dare you?! And the supreme leader is not a corpse!

Not yet...

KR: Why you...son of bitch?!

Hey! That's is no way to speak about my mom!

KR: Now, you know how I feel!

Snoke...is your mom?

KR: What no! More like...a father...I really...really miss him...

I didn't know that. I'm sorry to hear that...

KR: No you are not sorry!

I am...really...I know what it's like to...miss your father...

KR: He's right in front you, you know...

I know...should we try to contact Snoke...so you can say how much you...miss him?

KR: You would do that for me...? Really? Risk everything...for me? Wait, you're just messing with me, aren't you?!

Of course I am...I'm not putting our mission or the rebellion at risk...for something so stupid!

KR: You are such a jerk!

"Be nice kids," rebukes his father him, as if he's breaking up a brother's fight and the stern voice jolts Ben straight back to the reality.


At first Ben is shocked over the fact that his father seems to have heard the darkside arguing inside his head, until it dawns on him, that he must be referring to him and Chewie, for the joke at Poe's expense, though the scolding is mostly directed at him, since his father glares at him to behave so Ben puts up his most innocent look and says: "What, he said that..."

Poe regards Chewie with a hurt look until Rey corrects the translation before his father gets a chance to it or scold Ben some more.

"He didn't say that, he said you're doing alright." Rey shakes her head sternly, even though Ben know that she wants to be the pilot instead and is really hoping to be asked to do it instead of Poe, or at least that they can take turns and Ben was really trying to help her, by insulting Poe so much that he would storm away to pout.

KR: Sounds more like something you would do...the pilot...eh rebelscum is far more mature than you...

Damn you're right...plan failed...

KR: Plan? What plan? Why don't you just tell your father that Rey wants to pilot as well?

I can't...too shy...how would I explain it...? Without giving away my feelings for her?

KR: You could say you are friends...

I don't want to be friendzoned either!

KR: Sigh...she must have melted your brain a long time ago...

"Oh...hey! I'm the best pilot in the resistance...I can't just be doing alright...right?" asks Poe, when he realizes that what Chewie really said was also an insult and looks suddenly very unsure of his talent to fly the ship.

Hey, this might work! Any minute he will storm away and gives his position to Rey!

KR: Or just back to your, you know, dad...

BB-8 chirps something to be a part of the conversation and Finn snores loudly in the back.

"Which is it, Chewie?" asks his father a bit forcefully and Chewie shrugs. "He is doing more than fine..."

"He said you're doing more than fine," translates Rey in a hurry before Ben can crack another joke, as he had another one on his lips, ready to go.

"Oh...thanks Chewie." Poe smiles at Chewie for the praise, who just shrugs.

Damn, now Poe will let the praise get to his head and never leave the pilot seat for Rey!

KR: That was never going to happen anyway...

Poe scowls at Ben and mouths at him:"Don't you dare translate for me anymore."

"I wouldn't even though you would beg me for it on your knees..." mouths Ben back at him.

BB-8 chirps something annoyed at him, while his father looks deep in thought, as he continues to evaluate Poe's performance in his head and Rey frowns at Ben for being so rude.

KR: Your plan to impress Rey sure failed...

Well, then I will just make up a new plan!

KR: Just give up already...

No, you give up!

"Okay, you can pilot for a while. I need to take care of my kid first." Han sits down next to puzzled Ben.

Take...care of...me?

KR: Didn't he already...or does he mean...punish you...? For being mean to Poe?

I hope not! Not for being mean to stupid Poe, of all things!

KR: Then I hope he will punish you for being so mean to me!

Like...that's ever going to happen...


Before Ben know what is happening, his father, with something close to a lightspeed, takes of his boots, fluff the pillow, lifts up the duvet and orders him under it, tucks him in and when he gone under it, kisses him on his forehead and ruffles his hair. "Get some sleep, kid." He smiles at him before going to look for something in one of the crates in the back.

Ben looks stunned after him, as everything happened so fast.

Care...from his point of view...I could just as well be back in a cradle!

KR: He sure treats you like that...

I sure hope he's not looking for a pacifier!

Ben is way too exhausted to object to all that babish treatment verbally, however, if his father shows up with a pacifier he will cut it in half with his lightsaber. That should say a lot more than words and teach his father to stop treating him like a kriffing child!

KR: Don't, he would confiscate your saber and put you back in a timeout or...maybe this is a punishment?

What? How can this be a punishment?!

KR: He send you to bed early for being mean to Poe, as he is a guest...

This isn't a bed! And I planned on taking a nap anyway and I am a guest as well...

KR: Not in the eyes of your father, you are his property...

You always phrase things in such a weird way. Are you Snoke's property?

KR. Of course I am! And you stole me from him!

You stole me away from my family for years...

KR: No! I asked you nicely, you said yes.

Nicely?

KR: Which is far different from how you took over without even asking me!

Would you have said yes?

KR: NO! Of course not.

That's why I didn't ask. But, how come father didn't just let me sleep in the crew chambers? Why here...where everyone can see me...?

Poe smirks when looking at where Ben is tucked in like a baby, but returns looking out the viewport when Ben sends him a death glare, BB-8 chirps something, Finn snores even louder in the other sofa, Chewie continues co-piloting the ship, but Ben can see where a small grin appears on his face and his father is still looking for something in the containers while Rey smiles sadly as she is probably remembering her own life, without a family to take care of her,

KR: Your father is probably still worried about your head injury and wants to watch over you...to make sure you're okay...

When, you put it like that...that's...kind of...nice of him...

KR: Kind of...?

Okay...really, really nice of him...but still unnecessary...I've been through worse...way worse...

KR: He doesn't know that...

And I won't...ever tell him...but, poor Rey, we can switch for a while, if she wants to...except of course dad is never allowed to kiss her! I'm the only one who gets to do that, but she should be a part of my family. I know mom always wanted a daughter...too...

KR: You want to adopt her...?!

No, you fool! I mean as a daughter in law...

KR: Aren't you getting a way, way ahead of yourself...? You aren't even dating...

Maybe, I can get her to lie down her next to me...to um...cuddle...

KR: Right...as your dad would allow that...or any of the guys...even BB-8. Or Rey herself!

You're no fun as ever..well...I'm too lazy to even think any more..I thinking of taking a...short...nap...

Ben closes his eyes.

KR: Well, then I will just take over again...

Ben's eyes snap wide open.

What! I thought you said...that you wouldn't take over then...you promised!

KR: I wonder if, I am lying now or...then...

You suck so much!

KR: Same to you...only way to find out...is falling asleep...

Well, I'm not risking it!

KR: Suit yourself...but, really you should be on your guard anyway. Have you forgotten all about the approaching danger? And the monsters...?

Your'e right...for once! I can't sleep...not yet...we are still in danger...from something...


Ben sits up and that doesn't go unnoticed with his overprotective father.

"What's wrong? Can't you sleep? Oh, of course he can't sleep on a empty stomach..." mutters his father as he dives back to his search, in the container.

Did he just talk about me in third person? I can talk...I'm not an infant! But, the hunger is not an issue...but the darkside. Not to mention, it's not really relaxing knowing there is some threat on it's way, but that threat is overshadowed with the fact that we are transporting monster, that the force deems way more dangerous than whatever is heading our way...I think I have even met those monsters before...somewhere...

KR: I recognize their aura...from my nightmares...

That's not promising...

"Here, eat this." His father throws him a food bar. "Until we get something better." He says apologetically and when Ben catches it with ease, he adds. "Nice catch." his father smiles, as if they are just playing catch in the backyard.

I've force reflexes of course can I catch things easily!

KR: Don't be impolite...

"Thanks...for the food I mean..." Ben lifts up the food-bar, opens it and grimaces as he looks at the blue inside with great skepticism, since it doesn't look very appetizing.

Is that the only thing my father and Chewie have been eating? I hope not, mom would not approve...also Chewie needs his meat!

"Please, let me know, if your head gets any worse," says his father worried. "I have some painkillers here, I just don't remember where I left them..." His father digs into the container, comes up again and scratches his head in a worry.

Typical dad...not remembering and losing something so important...like me...

KR: Maybe you are looking at this all wrong, maybe your dad just forgot where he left you...for twenty years...

That's awful! Everything is better than that...

KR: Sure...? Maybe the truth will be so painful...that would be better if you never knew it...

You are probably right...but I still deserve the truth! Why did he..abandon me...for so long? Why did he break his...promise to me?

Ben gazes at his father's back where he is looking like mad for painkillers for him.

But, I'm not going to ask him now...we have to get through this trip first...safely...then everything can be brought to the light...

KR: Or the dark again...

I didn't ask for your opinion!

KR: You never do...

And never will...


Next up: An awkward family dinner...