A/N: Oh my goodness guys, I'm so sorry that it's been so long since the last update! Life got a little crazy for a while, but now I'm back with another chapter! I really hope you all enjoy it, and I am so incredibly grateful for every single one of you who read, follow, and review this story!
HHHHHHHHHH
Weeks came and went, and the war dragged on. Many refugees from the Adamus mining facility had been recruited by the Resistance and remained on Naboo, but others had refused the call and elected to lay low on some backwater world or another. Rey could not blame them. The cost of challenging the First Order's iron fist was high, and they were just everyday people whose chief concern was feeding and protecting their families. Once, her own life had been so simple. But she'd had no one to look after but herself.
Sometimes, when mothers and their children passed her by, Rey caught herself wondering if she might have that one day. But those thoughts were fleeting, for she would then swiftly remind herself to focus on the task at hand. There was a war to fight—an enemy to defeat.
Things were not as simple as they had once been, however. The lines between good and evil—light and dark—were more blurred than she had initially believed, and she often wished that there was someone to offer her further guidance. Someone who understood the Force—like Luke, like Maz. But truly, it was Leia's wisdom that she missed most of all.
Leia had reminded her that there was always hope, even when she could not see it.
And now, as Rey scanned the latest updates from the HoloNet on her datapad, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Miners on Malterra to be compensated for their labors… Democratic elections to be held on Chandrila… Coruscant and other Core Worlds see rare decline in crime?"
"First Order propaganda," Poe grunted dismissively.
The Resistance leaders were gathered in the throne room of the Theed Royal Palace with Queen Vashti and her advisors, discussing their next move. But the First Order's sudden and rather recent interest in altruism had complicated matters.
"We should investigate these stories ourselves before dismissing them as false," Rey suggested, sending a sharp glance of disapproval the general's way.
He frowned and shook his head. "We don't have the time or the resources to waste."
"I'll go."
Every head turned toward Rose, who had remained silent for the duration of the meeting.
"Not alone," Finn said. "I'm coming with you."
She smiled knowingly at him before addressing the queen directly. "Finn and I can go to Malterra and talk to the miners. We'll find out if they're being treated fairly."
"And I will go to Chandrila," Rey declared. "If it is true that their system of government is resuming its regular operations, then that might mean that the First Order is loosening its hold on the galaxy."
"Unlikely," Poe scoffed. "We shouldn't be going on these wild bantha chases. We need military action—action that will dismantle the First Order while they're busy fighting amongst themselves."
"If there is a course of action that might allow us to avoid more bloodshed, then I will gladly take it," Queen Vashti replied. "I agree with the Jedi. We should investigate this."
Rey gave her a grateful smile, but Poe shifted irritably in his chair and leaned forward.
"We can't win this war by making friends with our enemy." He paused and then laughed incredulously as he looked around the room. "Am I the only one here who hasn't completely lost my mind? This is the First Order we're talking about. They've blown up an entire system of planets! And suddenly, all of you are willing to believe that they've—what? Had a change of heart?"
"They are no longer under the influence of Supreme Leader Snoke," Rey responded calmly and matter-of-factly.
"What exactly are you suggesting?" he challenged, regarding her with the same suspicion he had shown when they were on board the Resurgence.
"Rey's right," Finn intervened. "At the mining facility, we won stormtroopers to our cause. Like me, they were born into that life and were provided with no alternative—not until now. We can't condemn them all to death for walking a path they didn't choose."
Poe looked at him long and hard, deep in thought as he considered his friend's words. It was quite apparent to Rey that he valued Finn's opinion above her own, that he trusted him more than her, and she clenched her jaw as frustration flared inside her.
"All right," Poe agreed reluctantly, exhaling and massaging his tightly creased forehead. "The three of you have one week to do whatever reconnaissance you deem necessary, but not a day longer."
Finn's eager face broke into a grin. "Thank you, Poe. You won't regret this."
He leaned back in his chair with a defeated sigh. "I already am."
HHHHHHHHH
The following morning, Rey placed her lightsaber, comlink, canteen, and datapad in a satchel that she slung over her shoulder. Everything else had already been loaded into the Falcon's cargo hold. Finn and Rose had departed for Malterra an hour ago, and now it was time for her to make the journey to Chandrila. She knew very little about the planet—only that it was green and beautiful, and Leia had lived there before the war between the Resistance and the First Order had become a full-scale conflict. That alone was enough to motivate her to defend the planet and its people with her life, to preserve peace if at all possible. That was what Leia would want—an end to the destruction and the senseless violence. The restoration of democracy.
Glancing around the luxurious chamber one last time, Rey was struck by a very sudden and strange feeling. Like she might never see this place again. Like everything was about to change.
Blinking, she slowly turned and left the bedroom, closing the door behind her and making her way through the gleaming palace corridors. She kept going until she reached the Theed Hangar, where the Falcon sat waiting. Yellow starfighters lined both sides of the vast space, sunlight beaming through the towering archway at the far end of the grand hall. Rey could not help but admire the way the marble floors glittered and glistened as she made her way toward the old freighter.
"Wait! Stop!"
Startled, she turned and looked back. Poe was racing toward her, several rebel soldiers following closely in his wake. Her brow instantly furrowed with concern.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
He skidded to a stop no more than two meters in front of her, and it was then that Rey became intensely aware of the fierce anger radiating from him. He was out of breath, his chest heaving and his eyes blazing.
"Why don't you tell me?"
She stared at him, bewildered by his accusing tone.
"This is all going according to plan, isn't it? You've been scheming with him the whole time, haven't you?"
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about," she answered defensively, her patience wearing thin.
"Oh really?" Poe sneered. "Well, maybe this will refresh your memory."
Holding aloft the small device in his right palm, he clicked a button, and Rey watched in horror as holograms of herself and Ben Solo were suddenly projected from its glowing center. They stood back to back in Snoke's throne room, lightsabers ignited as they battled his armored guards.
"Ben, when we touched hands I saw your future. I'll help you."
"Rey, I want you to join me. We can rule together and bring a new order to the galaxy."
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the audio recording played over and over again—relentlessly. For a long moment, she was utterly speechless, paralyzed by fear and shame. But then fury began to bubble inside her, spitting and roiling until it threatened to burst from its fragile cage.
"Where did you get that?" Rey demanded in a voice that was low but trembling, teetering on a dangerous edge.
"It's all over the HoloNet," Poe replied, deactivating the device and shoving it into his pocket. "The truth behind Snoke's death."
"What you saw in that recording—what you heard—is not the whole story," she explained, taking an imploring step toward hm. "I never agreed to—"
"Snoke and his guards died that day. But Kylo Ren didn't, and neither did you," he interrupted bitterly. "You walked away with little more than a scratch. I wonder why that is?"
"You don't know—"
"I know enough!" he snapped. "You helped Kylo Ren betray his master so that he could become the new Supreme Leader, and in return, you were chosen to rule at his side. You wanted power, and you saw your chance to claim it."
"If I wanted it so badly, then why do you think I'm still here?" she responded lividly.
"Simple," Poe shrugged, his dark gaze never leaving hers. "There's no better way to defeat your enemy than to have someone on the inside, making sure that you're always one step ahead. Waiting for the opportunity to make the most lethal strike."
"I would never betray the Rebellion." Tears scalded her eyes, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "Who defeated Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base? Who stopped the TIE fighters on Crait from picking off all of you one by one? Who helped you escape from the caves and gave you a way off the planet when you would have otherwise been completely wiped out by the First Order?"
Nodding, he placed his hands on his hips and lowered his head. She felt some of his resentment melting away, replaced by regret and reluctance.
"I'm sorry, Rey. I really am. But this…" He gestured helplessly and looked at her again. "This is not something I can ignore. For the sake of the Rebellion, I must ask that you come with me immediately."
She stared at him in disbelief—saw the soldiers' hands resting on their blasters. "Are you giving me a choice?"
"I'm afraid not," he admitted with genuine sadness in his eyes.
A sharp stab of pain pierced her chest, the sting of betrayal leaving her stunned and devastated. After all they had been through together, he still refused to believe her—refused to show her the same loyalty she had shown him. There was only one thing left to do now.
"I'm sorry too," Rey said, her cheeks wet with tears.
Then she thrust her right hand forward, summoning a tremendous wave of telekinetic power that sent Poe and the other soldiers flying back through open air. Before they even hit the floor, she had already turned and started running toward the Falcon. The satchel bounced against her back, her steps pounding in tandem with her beating heart and gasping breaths.
"Shut the doors!" she heard Poe shout. "Seal the hangar!"
Increasing her pace, Rey felt the Force lighten her feet and carry her so swiftly that they scarcely touched the ground. The battered freighter grew larger and larger until it was all she could see, and she bounded up the boarding ramp with desperate strides. Closing it behind her, she took the quickest route to the cockpit and threw her satchel into the copilot's seat. Rey flicked a number of switches, mashed several buttons, and even jammed her elbow against the hull of the ship as it sputtered to life.
Ahead, the gap between the massive pair of durasteel doors was narrowing, and she gritted her teeth as she dropped into the pilot's chair. "Come on, girl. Don't fail me now."
The flickering lights stabilized, the metallic shuddering subsided, and a deep, steady hum informed her that the Falcon was ready for flight. Gripping the controls with white-knuckled hands, Rey directed the ship into the air and deactivated the landing gear. Han's golden dice clinked together just above her head as she leveled the Falcon and aimed it at the slim space that still remained between the sliding doors. It was now or never.
Like it had been launched from a blaster cannon, the famous freighter shot through the opening and was birthed into a world bathed in golden sunlight. Below were fields of green and sparkling waterfalls, and above was a blue cloudless sky that promised freedom. As the Falcon ascended into the endless expanse, Rey checked the navicomputer and ensured that her course was still set for Chandrila. The Queen of Naboo herself had authorized her to undertake this mission, and she had no intention of allowing the unfounded suspicions of Poe Dameron to prevent her from seeing it through.