Chapter 9

Finn and Rey had traded the pursuit craft for a small freighter ship not worth a third of the value of the trade, but sufficient for one hyperdrive trip to the Monsua Nebula—an immense pink cloud nebula of the Moddell sector of the Outer Rim. It was known for its dangerous electrical storms, but much less known for a medium-sized unnamed planet within it. Finn and Rey headed for this planet.

There were electrical buoy rods hovering in a line through the storm nebula which attracted lightning in order to create a safe path for ships to approach. Two A-Wings flanked them as they descended and hailed them to transmit their security codes. Finn gave his name and codes. That satisfied the A-Wing pilots, which then escorted them to the planet. They passed dozens of star cruisers and destroyer ships hidden not far off the line of buoys. Each ship had its own buoys surrounding it to protect them from the electrical activity in the atmosphere.

Their freighter descended to the planet deep within the nebula and landed on the brightly colored terrain just in front of a series of reinforced tent structures. The Resistance base was stationed on a plain covered in a short, green, and maroon turf with small, feathered trees no higher than a man's shoulder. Temporary shelters were organized throughout the plain, with hundreds of snub fighters and troop transports parked beyond them. Soldiers and Resistance members were bustling among the tents and ships, each with their assigned duties, tens of thousands of men and women loyal to the Resistance.

Finn and Rey landed the freighter and exited, but they were presently met by a squad of Resistance fighters with their blasters aimed at them. Finn raised his hands. "I can't blame you for the security, considering the situation," he said and looked at Rey.

"I apologize, Captain, but our orders are to bring the two of you in for questioning," the Resistance officer said, "and I will need to secure any of your weapons."

"I understand," Finn said, but he had no weapon. He looked to Rey.

Rey appeared offended but relinquished her lightsaber staff to the officer reluctantly.

"Thank you," the officer said. "Now follow me." They were led away under guard.

Finn and Rey were brought to a large tent centrally located within the base and told to wait inside. Guards were stationed inside and outside the tent.

It was not long before General Organa entered, followed by Chewbacca and Admiral Statura. Finn rose quickly to salute them. General Organa saluted and then addressed him. "You have created quite a problem for us by bringing Rey here."

Chewbacca growled and made a step forward. Leia turned and put a hand on his chest. "It's okay, Chewie. I know." Chewbacca settled down but was obviously upset.

"But her presence may give the Resistance an opportunity," she said.

Finn looked confused, but that confusion disappeared when Ben Solo entered. Chewbacca became more agitated.

"I was going to ask what you mean by that, but I assume that it has to do with him," he said, gesturing to Ben Solo. Ben did not reply.

"Why did you bring Rey here?" Leia asked.

Finn stood tall. "She saved me from the First Order and fought Snoke directly in order to do so."

"Do you understand your breach of security by bringing her here?" Admiral Statura asked.

"I do," Finn said unapologetically.

Leia turned to Rey, "Why did you rescue Finn?"

Rey looked at Finn and then at Ben, "I was made aware of my history, how my father killed my mother—to do what he felt was right." She looked at Ben when she said this. "I do not want to serve Snoke in that way any longer."

General Organa looked and Ben, who returned her gaze. There was a nonverbal communication between them that Finn and Rey were not ignorant of. General Organa nodded to Ben. Ben stepped forward and leaned forward at the table between them.

"I arrived about three weeks before the Resistance, knowing this was the next Resistance station." He looked to his mother who had given him that information before he had left to go to Dathomir. "I had planned to seek you out after the Resistance had arrived," he spoke to Rey. She did not appear surprised. "We don't have time to discuss everything the General and Admiral need to go over with you. I don't have time to play games trying to figure out your motivation. I have a mission, and I need you," he said. She still remained silent. Finn shifted a little. "You know what Snoke is. I know you do. You know the power of the dark side like I do. But I know more."

Rey made it obvious with her smirk that she disagreed with the last statement.

"I know how we are to defeat him, completely," Ben said. Her smirk diminished and her eyes widened at the implication.

"You cannot defeat him," Rey said. "He is too powerful; and even if you could, he would only return."

"He does not tell you everything, Rey," Ben stated.

"What are you thinking?" Rey asked. "I've fought you before, and let me tell you, it wasn't impressive. What do you plan on doing—just going to run up to him swinging your new lightsaber?" She had noticed his weapon.

"No," Ben stated, "we need to break into the Sith Temple." That silenced Rey. "You know what is down there," Ben said.

Rey looked down and thought deeply. She finally muttered, "The creature that sleeps in the pool."

"Yes," Ben said, "it is a being of the dark side. Once every thousand years that creature reproduces."

Rey was thoughtful. "And every thousand years, Snoke returns," she said, understanding the connection.

Everyone was silent for a moment at the implication.

"They are of the same kind. I have felt that between them," Rey said.

"I have, too," Ben agreed.

"That is why you need me," Rey said.

"Snoke cannot be defeated by any one person. I—I fear his power will be too much. Between him and the Sleeper, I can't do it alone. If you truly have left him, I must believe that this is something you need to do as well."

Rey looked around the room and thought for a long time. I glint of hope appeared on her face, but she quickly concealed it. "I suppose, I can't stay here anyway."

"That is true," Admiral Statura commented with a cold insistence.

"Then, I'm going too," Finn jumped in.

Ben looked coldly at Finn. "No, you are not. You will be a liability, and I will not babysit you."

"Yes, he is going," General Organa said.

Ben shot a glance at her in surprise. Leia's motherly stubbornness shot back at him.

"Breaking into the Sith Temple is one thing. You and Rey may be able to do that," Leia said. "But how do you suppose you will get onto Coruscant and approach the temple. The Sith Temple is under the old Jedi Council, where the First Order Palace is now located. You will need to be supported with at least two squads of soldiers, and a captain: Captain Finn. I will release our best pilot, with our most reliable First Order clearance codes to get you to the surface. I will not send you without giving you the best that I have to give. There is no discussion on that."

Ben did not argue. He turned to Rey and Finn, "Then, is it agreed?"

"Do I have a choice?" Rey asked, knowing that she did. Ben did not say anything. Rey studied his face. She smiled half-heartedly and said, "I agree." Finn consented as well.

With that, Admiral Statura turned to the guards. "Please escort Finn and Rey to their temporary quarters. Forgive the security, Captain Finn, but you will need to be under guard. Your weapon will be returned to you when you leave shortly, Rey."

Rey and Finn were then escorted out, leaving Ben with the others.

Ben turned to Leia. "I don't trust her," he said. "She is lying to us."

"I sense it too. She is strong in the dark side," his mother replied. "I can't advise you to go through with this."

"Whether I trust her or not, I have no choice. I need her," he replied.

"This is too much of a risk, Ben. She has the dark side and is unpredictable."

"So am I," Ben said, "That is why I need her."

"I fear for your life," Leia replied. "I don't want to lose you again."

"You have lost me once, and I know you think you have me back now. But you don't. Don't you see? I am on the edge of a knife. I need to do this, mother." Ben hung his head. He had murdered his father, Han Solo, in order to prove himself to Snoke. "About Father . . ." he began.

"Enough, Ben," she stopped him. Her demeanor was hard when she said this. "Just don't add to the pain now, Ben. I just want to give you the best chance possible. However, this plan... "

"Mother," Ben put his hand on her shoulder. "I have to do this. I've followed the wrong destiny for so long. This is my chance to do it right."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Leia said. She put her hand on his.

Admiral Statura stood by, unemotional and observant. Chewbacca was still agitated. "General Organa, there are other matters we need to attend to," Statura stated.

Leia nodded. "Yes, Admiral. Ben, for now, you have to go. We'll discuss further preparations later."

Ben nodded to both of them and left the tent. The admiral turned to Leia once they were alone. "We have been compromised, and we must assume that our location here is no longer a secret."

"I agree," Leia said.

"I can see that Finn trusts Rey and that you trust your son. But I don't trust either of them. So neither of them can know our plans." Chewbacca growled in agreement with Statura. Leia contemplated this.

"What are you thinking?" Leia asked.

Statura continued, "Their presence here changes the timeline of our assault."

"You mean our assault on Coruscant. If Ben succeeds, we may not need to make an assault," Leia replied hopefully.

"And if he doesn't the First Order will likely discover our location, and possibly our plans. If they don't know them already."

"We can afford to see what Ben's mission accomplishes first," Leia replied.

"I don't like saying this, General; but it is highly probable that everyone you send with Ben will be killed," Statura stated.

"I know," Leia said with somber reflection.

"So what are your orders?" Statura replied.

Leia closed her eyes and thought, but finally nodded reluctantly. "How soon can we mobilize everyone?" Leia asked.