Chewbacca was very tall, Dex noticed. Very tall and somehow a lot scarier when he was trapped on a ship with him rather than watching him on a movie screen. This could go very bad …

"Chewie," Kylo Ren murmured. His father's oldest friend … his godfather. A thousand memories of Ben Solo's childhood flashed through his mind of Chewie's strength, his loyalty, his temper, his strength …

We're kriffed, Kylo thought calmly.

"Chewie," Rey said, slipping between them. "He changed. Ben saved my life. He killed Snoke. He tried to stop the assault on the Resistance! You can't kill him. I-"

Spit it out, Dex urged her. Come on. You can do it...

"- need him to show me the way of the Force."

She doesn't care for me at all, Kylo thought sadly. I knew it was all for nothing.

It wasn't all for nothing, Kylo. I saw the future you would have had if you had followed through on your plans to ask Rey to rule with you. She would have refused and you would have been miserable. And you would have lost her … probably forever.

And this is better?

You're wrong. Maybe she's not in love with you, but she does care for you. She risked her life for you. She believed in you when no one else would- even when Snoke was torturing her, she believed in you. Most people go their whole lives without someone having that much faith in them.

How the kriff do you know these things? Kylo scowled. You're no Snoke are you?

I'm not Snoke. Somehow I don't think Snoke would be cheering on your young romance after you sliced and diced him.

"Ben?" Rey asked worriedly. "You're … it's like you're talking to someone else."

"No," Dex said quickly. "Just kind of lost in the memories..."

That was very smooth, Kylo said admiringly.

"Of course. This must be so hard for you." Rey took his hand and led him to one of the seats. "We've got to get back to the fleet. The Resistance needs us."

Is the Resistance all she talks about? Kylo demanded angrily.

She grew up on a desert planet living in an AT-AT. It's not like she had a chance to pick up many hobbies. Dex paused. After all, she's nothing. Nobody, right?

She is not! Kylo declared angrily. She is amazing!

Don't tell me. Tell her. And Kylo?

Yes?

If you EVER start off with "You're nothing" to her again I will punch you out with your own fist.

"Rey." His voice was hoarse, tinged with a fear that he could not name. "Rey?"

"Yes, Ben?" She was still wrapped in his cape. He wondered if she had forgotten that she was wearing it.

"About what I said earlier... I … was wrong. You've never been nothing. You're ..." Kylo paused. "Your parents gave up the most amazing gift anyone could ever had. I just wanted you to know that..."

Rey blushed. "Ben ..."

"The Resistance is on Crait," Chewbacca interrupted. "What's left of it."

"I failed …." Rey said softly. "I really thought if Snoke was gone we'd be able to end this."

"You did your best. You tried," Kylo said. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to order it to stop."

You really are sorry about that, Dex observed.

As soon as we get a moment I am going to find out who or what you are and I will free myself of you, spirit.

Dex. Call me Dex, Kylo. You've never had a friend like me.

I've never had a friend. Kylo tried not to let the loneliness, the bitterness, creep into his "voice." He failed miserably, of course.

Now you do.

Why?

Why not? Dex gave the mental impression of a smirk. I'm a dead man, Kylo. It's not like I have that many options for companionship either. He paused. And I think you're worth it.

To that, Kylo had no answer.

..*..

Crait.

Hux had obviously taken control of the First Order. He was intent on burning down the last of the Resistance to cement his role as the rightful Supreme Leader.

"They're being slaughtered! We have to do something!"

Kylo raised his head. "Luke is there. Can you sense him?"

"Yes." Rey closed her eyes. "But something … feels different."

It's a Force projection. He's not really there. He'll die from it.

"Good," Kylo said aloud.

Rey looked at him. "He's just one man. He can't stop an army with just a laser sword. Ben, your mother is still alive. She's in the base. Hux must want to kill her to hurt you..."

Mother. Kylo rose to his feet and made his way to the rear airlock. He drew his light saber and activated it.

"Ben!" Rey screamed. "We're still in the air!"

"I know." Kylo opened the air lock.

Kylo … If he was dead, why did Dex suddenly feel panic at the thought of what he saw in Kylo's mind. What are you doing?

Saving Mother.

Kylo, Dex muttered. I have a bad feeling about this ...

And Kylo jumped.