AN: In which exposition is fun.

Chapter 3

"It is a weapon of some sentimental value. A blaster. Said to have been owned by a legendary bounty hunter."

"Boba Fett?" Ben suggests, vaguely remembering some sort of connection between his father and the man.

"The same."

"It's not worth much."

"And why can't you get it yourself?" Rey blurts out.

"Girly, you are not part of this conversation."

I have a bad feeling about this.

What else can we do?

"My reasons are my own. I'm sure I don't have to tell the Garibaldo that." He pushes his considerable girth back from the table. "I'll leave you two. I expect to receive the gun by dawn, back in this room. No later. And no weapon, no deal. Except maybe we can discuss the ownership of the girl again."

In a shuffling gait, Foreefo departs, leaving the door partially open to the busy room outside. All sorts of unique sounds of the casino filter in and Rey immediately springs away from Ben's side.

"That uncomfortable to be around me?" Ben looks across with a smirk.

"I… Just need a moment to think." Straightening her dress (which has somehow become more revealing in Ben's lap), she walks towards the door.

With a flick of his wrist, Ben closes the door. "Where exactly are you going?"

"Really? You're going to trap me in this room with you?"

"Until I know what you plan to do, yes."

"Ben-"

"-Kylo-"

"Ben." She clears her throat. "Whatever you've gotten yourself into..."

"Don't you mean what the Garibaldo has troubled himself with?"

"I…"

Ben suddenly looks tired. Exhausted. Running large hands through the raven's nest of black hair, it's clear he's uncomfortable. "Perhaps this is where things come to an end. I suppose the outcome was inevitable."

"Why are you here?" Rey softens her voice. "Tell me the truth."

"Hux is planning to murder me."

Rey's heart stutters. Ben's nonchalant tone makes the air in her lung seize. He is so…

"Resigned?"

"Stop that!" Retracing her steps, she moves back to the table, and sits down across from him. "How can you be so relaxed?"

"Honestly, I expected some sort of hostile coup before now."

"But you worked so hard to become Supreme Leader…"

Ben flashes a dangerous smile in her direction. "Was that my goal?"

"Wasn't it?"

They are on edge here. She is not going to bring up his request to join her, nor his choice to save her. Nor, the pesky images of a future that could possibly still be. Crossing her arms, she asks, "So, how does the Garibaldo play into the situation?"

"As Supreme Leader, you can imagine there are certain political hassles I cannot be involved with. A reputation to protect. Hux has no idea that I'm aware of his machinations."

"Who discovered his intent?"

"One of my Knights."

The mysterious faction she has yet to meet. Allegedly the most dangerous men and women in the galaxy, completely loyal to Kylo Ren, she hopes never to cross their path. "Oh?"

"She gave her life for the details."

"Is that so?" Rey wills herself to remain perfectly calm, while a nagging voice in the back of her mind wonders what exactly was involved in their relationship.

"In her honor, I created the Garibaldo. A man who could do the things that I could not. A man who could work against Hux and his forces within the First Order."

"And why not come to us? To the Resistance?"

"I still choose the path of the dark, Rey."

"Not a change of heart then?" She sees glimpses of Han Solo in his head. The scoundrel figure is known to him. To emulate his father and not the dark spirit of his grandfather…

His dark eyes capture hers. "Would you want to know what goes on in my heart, scavenger?"

"I…" They were in a casino. Time to play her cards. "I've seen the light in it."

"That was before…"

Finn bursts into the room. Sighting Rey first, he says, "There you are!" The former stormtrooper isn't as quick to recognize Ben as she has been. In his formal ensemble, out of the formidable black cape and leathers, he is…

Handsome?

That's not what I was thinking.

The blush on your cheeks says otherwise.

That's makeup!

Keep telling yourself that.

"You!" Finn sputters, then places himself directly in front of Rey. His keen eyes immediately scan the room for anything that can be used as a weapon.

Are you going to tell him about our connection? Ben leans his large frame back in the chair, eyes pinning her, daring her to make the next move.

"Finn - I -" her fluster gives Ben even more reason to smile and she finishes, "We need to give him a moment to explain."

"He tried to kill me!" Finn looks between the two and asks, "Wait, Rey, did you knowingly enter the room with him?"

His intention clear, at Ben's overly chivalrous nod, she turns to Finn. "I don't know how quite to say this, but he's the Garibaldo."

A flabbergasted Finn rolls his eyes and moves to the bar counter. Pouring three equal glasses, he distributes the alcohol and says, "You're going to need to start from the beginning."

Eyes watering (definitely from the alcohol and no other reason), Rey still can't believe Ben's tale. The loneliness. The desperation. To his credit, Finn focuses on the now - on the fake plans and on retrieving the gun of Boba Fett.

You'd know if any of this was a lie.

Why didn't you tell us from the beginning?

I didn't need your help. In fact, up until an hour ago, I wouldn't have needed your help.

"Clearly, you do."

Finn looks between them. "Something else?"

Rey waves her hand, diaphanous sleeve waving behind her. "It's not important. Now, while you might think otherwise. I think it is in the best interest of the Resistance to support the Garibaldo. And in this instance, it means we need to recover the gun before the night is over."

"That's not our mission. Our mission was..."

"-to make contact with the Garibaldo. Which we have done. Think Finn, think about what we might able to accomplish."

"Even if it means we're saving the life of the Supreme Leader of the First Order?"

"Don't make me do this on my own, Finn."

Ben remains silent.

"You came back from Ahch-To a different person."

"I was always going to change. Change is how we survive. Look at you. Once a stormtrooper, now rebel scum."

"And it has nothing to do with him?"

"I…" Rey's eyes dart over to Ben.

"I can do this without you, but then you won't have the support of the Garibaldo when we're finished." Ben comes to her rescue. "Now, are you in or out?"