Chapter 15

The Pyrrhus sank into the heavy, humid atmosphere of Ajan Kloss. Vast, raging waves passed beneath them as evening storms scattered across the western-most ocean. Draining, orange sunlight basked the sleek fighter ship in a coat of fire. Poe handily swung around dark thunderheads, avoiding as much turbulence as possible. Just as the outline of land came across his radar, his palms began to sweat under his gloves. The chatter of the idle headsets broke the ship's serene stoicism as it dipped its nose downwards.

"Prepare for landing," Poe said.

His voice was flat and professional. It suddenly felt as though no one on the ship knew each other.

Poe narrowed in for a visual approach, switching off the autopilot and lowering the landing gear. Rey fiddled with her fingers as she felt the ship's hydraulics moving beneath her. Hundreds of scenarios played in her head, none of which she was satisfied with. Ben's mind was unusually empty, as focusing on his immediate senses seemed to do more good than any complex thought at all.

The ship made a quick 180 degree turn before slowing to a crawl, hovering just above the base's main landing pad. The nerves of everyone on board seemed to hold the ship in midair like a vice, as Poe took his sweet time in lowering to the ground. He wished he had a reason to abort the approach and make a second pass. But there was no escape. His radar showed a cluster of heat signatures surrounding the hangar in a fluid circle: roughly 40 Resistance members—all waiting for their arrival.

Rey and Ben climbed down to the cargo bay. The strong gravity of the planet pulled on their muscles, as they were not yet accustomed to the new environment. They knew the sensation would soon subside, but it did nothing to ease the tension. They gave each other one last look before the bay door dropped. It was a look of uncertainty, as neither knew what to do or expect, or how to act or what to say. And yet, it was a look of comfort. They were together and they had made it out of hell in one piece.

They.

We.

Us.

A plume of hot steam erupted from the floor as the bay door lowered onto a series of stilts, allowing the bright rays of a summer evening to penetrate the cargo bay, sucking all the cold air out with them. Any last vestiges of space, Vicondor, and Exegol were suddenly gone. Rey brought her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun, as she struggled to make out the shifting mass that was the greeting party. In sync, her and Ben took gingerly steps down the ramp, looking to each side as they made eye contact with face after face. Humans and aliens alike stepped back as they walked out, unsure how to react and not wanting to get too close, treating them like a plague.

Ben knew all eyes were on him. He scanned the faces only fractions of seconds at a time, not wanting to draw any real attention. Still, the pressure was crushing him. Had he been in tune with their thoughts, he could swear he would feel the collective pull of emotions on his soul.

Disgust, hatred, bewilderment, shock, terror, betrayal…

Wait a moment…the sea of darkness is parting!

Ben looked up, above the crowd, through the crowd. He too put a hand above his eyes, as the form took a tall shadow before the harsh sunlight. A halo formed behind the unmistakable silhouette of the long-haired beast, one who walked right up to Ben with determination. The crowd parted for them as Ben took a step to come within arm's length of his childhood friend and guardian. A deep, shaky breath fell from his nostrils as he regarded the looming Wookie. His jaw clenched and unclenched as any words he had wished to say over the years seemed to flow away from him with the gentle ocean breeze.

Before Ben's lips could even part to form a word, Chewbacca roughly grabbed his shoulders, pulling him close, before delivering a bone-chilling roar that blew Ben's hair in all directions. Ben turned his cheek to him, pressing his eyes shut at the scolding. It was not the creature's fierce strength or sharp teeth that sutured him in place, but the pain in his voice. This was not the battle-cry Ben had heard from Chewbacca for many years, but a raw lashing. The Wookie dug his claws into Ben's shoulders; if they had punctured him, he would not have noticed. Finally, Ben slowly looked up at him, seeing his eyes for the first time in many years. The same soft eyes he would look to for guidance. But they were hurting as they stared down the man that had brought so much suffering to the wise, old creature.

Ben made a curt, low sound in Chewbacca's language—a sign of respect and humility. No one else had heard, as it was meant for no one else but them.

Chewbacca stared at Ben with a fierce gaze as though he may tear his head from his shoulders then and there. Rey took the smallest step forward, uneasy but willing herself not to interfere. The crowd and the island seemed to peel away from them.

With a heavy, emotional breath, Chewbacca's grip lightened and pulled Ben into a crushing embrace, in which Ben was more than relieved to return. Like he had many times as a child, just a quarter of his size, he buried his face into the locks of matted mane that smelled of smoke and timber, hoping to never let go. Then came the tears, which like oceans to their own world, mixed with the sand at their feet.

Rey let out a relieved sigh at the sight of the embrace. For a moment, she was filled with a wholesome warmth to see Ben and Chewie reunited, and yet, she felt a sudden loneliness. As she watched their expressions and gestures, she realized she was seeing true family, that of which could not be lost even over decades of distance and differences. But there was no similar greeting for her; no one from the crowd emerged to meet her with such conviction. Was it pride? Or some deep-seated self-loathing? What had she expected beyond pairs of curious eyes? She rubbed her hands together, feeling out of place.

From behind her, Poe emerged from the steaming ship with his helmet in one hand and a satchel slung over his other shoulder. He looked bothered and in need of a stiff drink.

"Okay, come on, nothing to gawk at, people! You and you—maintenance check on the ship; you—help me get our third wheel here down to the holding cells," Poe gestured to the lifeless First Order captain, "Everyone else, please disperse! You'll have plenty of time to throw stones, get your autographs, and everything in between once we're all settled in."

Poe pushed past the remaining bystanders. Many began to peel away from the crowd, engaging in hushed conversations as they walked off. A few members filed passed them, entering the ship to begin the unloading process. All of them gave a wide berth to Ben and Chewie, who hardly noticed, as Chewbacca appeared to be inspecting Ben, pulling at his hair and looking at his hands. Rey looked at them, then at Poe who continued walking.

"Wait, Poe!" Rey called.

He turned back.

"What do you want us to do?" She asked with an unconfident shrug.

Before Poe could answer, a familiar ball of orange and white rolled up behind him, beeping furiously. Poe nearly dropped his helmet as he acknowledged BB-8 who swam around his legs. With a quick glance and an alarmed beep-beeep!, the droid stormed towards Rey, Ben and Chewbacca, stopping in front of Rey's feet. The droid frantically rolled back and forth as though trying to herd Rey away from Ben, giving threatening beeps to Ben as it pointed its taser towards him. Ben took a step back and put his hands up, alarmed by the aggressiveness of the small droid. Chewbacca threw a restrained roar towards the droid, annoyed with its ignorant antics.

"BB-8! What are you—stop that!" Rey said.

The droid continued to herd her backwards, off the ramp, threatening to roll over her toes with each movement. Poe came jogging back to them, giving a placating gesture to BB-8 to stand down.

"Hey, hey, easy, bud! Relax, he's a guest. For now, at least," Poe said.

"So, this is the BB-unit that had me running all over the galaxy?" Ben quipped.

The droid stopped moving and tilted its head plate as though regarding Ben. Finally, it gave a curious, low boop, that stung with a heavy amount of skepticism. Rey rubbed her arm and Poe gave a nervous chuckle, patting BB-8 on the head.

"It's okay, BB-8, I'll tell you all about it," Poe said, turning back to Rey and Ben, "Uh, well, Rey, why don't you find some empty quarters for him or something—not the crew quarters, I don't think anyone would be happy with that, but maybe the old barracks. Then just sit tight for a little bit while I go find Finn and uh, yeah, I don't know what I'm gonna say to him, but, uh, just get settled first. It's been a long, few weeks for you two."

"I don't think we should be getting comfortable before talking to him; I'd rather speak with Finn now," Ben said.

Poe shook his head.

"Uh-uh, no. Him and I need to get on the same page first before we deal with you, so do yourself a favor and go enjoy whatever freedoms you have for now until we're ready to talk shit out," Poe replied.

Ben set his jaw as he and Poe stared at each other. Rey frowned and barely brushed Ben's elbow.

"Come on," she said to him, "Chewie and I will show you around."

Ben looked at Rey for a moment, noticing the pleading in her eyes to remove from the situation. He gave a short sigh and a nod, following Rey off the ramp of the Pyrrhus. Chewbacca followed them as well, giving Ben a brief, brotherly squeeze on the shoulder as they walked. Poe pursed his lips, unsure what to think. He watched as they walked on, in the light of the sunset. Part of him wanted to keep an eye on them, but mostly he wanted this whole debacle to be over with so he could rest. But he knew a long night would be ahead for all of them, as Finn was no doubt waiting for him to come and discuss the terms under which Ben was allowed to exist in their presence. It was not a conversation Poe had any interest in at the moment, as a migraine had taken over his left eye.

"Don't go too far! And stay out of the common areas!" He added.

He felt he sounded like an overprotective parent.

All three briefly turned back to acknowledge him, with Rey flashing a half-hearted thumbs up. Poe sighed and scratched the back of his neck, repositioning his helmet under his arm. From below, next to his feet, BB-8 gave a curious and concerned beep. Poe shook his head and ran his free hand down his face, tired and worried.

"I don't know, bud. That's a question for Finn."

Rey, Ben, and Chewbacca walked along the poorly defined dirt trails into the jungle of the Klosslands. The overgrown forest seemed to consume any artificially made structure, leaving all of the base hangars and barracks coiled in thick vines and vegetation. The towering tree canopy blocked the harshness of the evening sun but did little to take away from the stifling humidity. Both Ben and Rey had shed the cloaks they arrived in, carrying them along with the few items they had held on to. Neither questioned how Chewbacca got along in this weather, and why he seemed so unaffected despite all the hair.

Rey had gained a spark of energy now that she was on the warm, welcoming planet. She had a hop in her step, and even did a quick twirl as she walked along, followed by a joyous giggle. Chewbacca tilted his head as he watched her, having never seen her so energetic. Ben looked just as puzzled and raised a brow.

"Happy to be home?" Ben asked.

Rey smiled to herself, drinking in the warm air.

"I guess so. I don't know what's come over me, but I think I didn't realize how much I just wanted to be somewhere warm and, well, safe!" She said.

Ben looked around.

"Just how safe is this place?" He asked.

Rey gave a shrug, unbothered by the question.

"Oh, I don't really know. There's animals and stuff, but we haven't had any problems so far. It's nothing like Vicondor, that's for sure," she said.

"Is there a reason we're going so deep into the forest?" Ben asked.

Rey and Chewbacca exchanged a look.

"Um, the way the base is set up, the barracks are out here, and back there is just the hangars and landing pads. Most of us stay in the main hangar—we just haven't had the chance to move everything out this way. We've only been here for, what, a few weeks?" Rey asked.

She looked to Chewbacca, who responded with a so-so nod in agreement.

"Ah, so I'm being posted out here, away from the general population. I get it," Ben said.

Chewbacca gave a short string of growls. Ben gave him a confused and offended look, his brow furrowed.

"Security risk? Come on, Chewie, do you honestly think I'd even be here if I was a real threat?" Ben asked.

Chewbacca responded curtly.

"I never suggested I was 'off-the hook' for anything, but I mean come on, this seems unnecessary," Ben replied.

He shoved a large branch out of the path of his face, holding it out of the way for Rey to step through the foliage.

"Well, it could be worse: I'm sure Finn would rather you be cellmates with that First Order captain," Rey said.

Ben nodded to himself. He silently wondered how he was going to get the opportunity to speak with the captain. He had so many questions for her, but something told him he would be waiting at the back of the line.

They soon reached the first block of barracks, situated around a small, decrepit plaza. Twisting, gnarled vines crawled across the metal husks of the sturdy buildings and had all but assimilated them into the greenery. At a distance, one might have missed the small dwellings altogether. An old, tired-looking generator stood at a vertical behind the block. Despite the Clone-era machinery, new sets of conductors and insulation appeared to have been recently installed. Propped up against the side of one building was the nearly skeletal figure of a rusted 74-Z speeder bike.

Rey gave a huff as she stood in the center of the plaza and gestured around.

"Take your pick; any of these six units should be operational. Honestly, though, I don't really know what you'll find on the inside," Rey said.

A fast, lizard-like creature scurried between the three of them on the floor of the forest, before disappearing into the foliage.

"Hopefully not a nest of Thunian wart-hornets," Ben said.

He leaned into the door of UNIT 1, as it briefly resisted opening. Rey made a concerned face and looked to Chewbacca, as if to convey, What in the name of the Force is a Thunian wart-hornet?

To Ben' surprise, atmosphere lights came on the moment the door to UNIT 1 was opened; he had expected an older, analog power system with switches and buttons. The unit was as bare and uninspired as one could imagine: sturdy, grey walls of plascrete without a decorative touch in sight; a neatly made military-style bunk bed stood up against one wall; and a desk with an uncomfortable looking chair. Besides the desk lamp, the table was empty. To the left, what appeared to be a decently sized bathroom and shower, as well as a storage closet was visible. He was wholly unimpressed, as even the lowest tier barracks in the First Order had more sophistication, liveliness, and artistry than this Clone War era hovel. And yet, he was filled with an immediate sense of ownership and basic gratitude.

I can work with this, he thought.

Rey and Chewbacca followed him inside, equally curious about the simple housing unit as neither had seen the inside of one.

"It's a bit boring, but it looks like everything you need is here. I wish I had my own bathroom and shower," Rey said.

She peeked her head into the bathroom, separated by a doorway. Despite the unit's drab and unassuming appearance, she was a little envious of the walk-in closet and private bathroom. She thought over how many years she could have used something so basic as this. She would have killed for even a section of it.

Ben paused at her comment, forgetting for a moment where Rey was coming from. He could not help but appreciate her respect for the little things in life. He shrugged.

"There's five more units out there, any one of them could have your name on it," he said.

Rey smiled.

"Yeah, maybe," she said.

She had much more liked the idea of staying with Ben under one, cramped roof. It would at least guarantee they would always be on top of each other… figuratively or literally. But now was not the time to joke about such things, not with Chewbacca looming over them.

Rey watched as Chewbacca and Ben continued to engage in small talk and surface level catch-up. They spoke to each other in a restrained manner, but still as though they had a long history. Rey could feel the familiarity between the two of them, which grew as the minutes passed. The same feeling was wedging her out. She knew neither of them were intentionally leaving her out of the conversation, but there was a natural flow between them that she did not want to disturb. So, she kept to herself until the feeling seemed to weigh too heavily on her. Finally, she cleared her throat.

"Um, I'm going to go put some of my stuff away and see if Poe wants me to help with anything. I'll catch you guys in a little bit, okay?" She asked.

"Yes, of course. Be sure to let me know if and when I'm summoned," Ben said with a light chuckle.

Rey smiled in agreement and saw herself out of the unit. She soon began walking towards the main hangar.

It was true that she was happy to be back on Ajan Kloss, back to a climate that was agreeable to her, and back with people she knew and cared for. The way the humidity curled and frizzed her hair did not bother her, nor did the simple and disheveled buildings of the old base that mixed seamlessly with the gnawing vegetation, sand, and dirt. She truly enjoyed this place, but now a simple addition was proving to already unsettle her.

On Vicondor, she and Ben were forced to rely on each other's company, whether out of want or not. There were no distractions besides the odd enemy here and there. They had all the time in the galaxy to learn each other, with nothing better to do. And yet, she had complained the whole time about going home.

She furrowed her brow at what she now realized was an opportunity she had taken for granted.

Things felt different now that she was "home". Ben and Chewie had a long history, and would no doubt seek to rekindle some semblance of what once was. She would be forced to come back to the real world and start addressing the needs of the Resistance and so on. Rey wondered if there would still be time for long conversations with Ben in the dead of night that would ultimately go nowhere beyond their lips meeting. Would they even be allowed to be alone together without supervision? Would everything they had been building up be put on hold? The questions piled up, and she suddenly wished she could go back and pick his brain on them now rather than later. But they would have to wait.

The forest seemed to elongate as she walked, keeping her isolated from the rest of the planet. A million shades of green consumed her vision, settling her into a calm state of mind. The fresh smell of the nearby ocean mixed with the summer heat of healthy plants and trees untouched by the powers of industry. She stopped and removed her shoes to carry in one hand. She dug her toes into the silken, red dirt of the jungle, unmoved by the threat of insects or venomous reptiles. She was simply eager to feel the planet holding her up, willing her through the Force, and sending her nakedly down a path of solemn familiarity.

After Rey's departure, the air between Ben and Chewbacca slowly fell away from light and casual, to awkward with a looming seriousness. In the way Chewbacca refused to take a seat anywhere, or only held eye contact for a few seconds at a time, Ben could tell he had something on his mind. He could only begin to guess. Sitting on the edge of the lower bunk, his hands clasped in front of him, Ben swallowed hard and decided he might as well initiate the conversation if only to get through it sooner.

He ran a hand through his hair a few times, a gesture Chewbacca still recognized after all these years. It caused his eyes to finally settle on Ben.

"I, uh, know it's not much, but I'm really glad to see you again, Chewie. I never thought we'd be here again like this," Ben said.

He was already beginning to feel quite humbled. It was disheartening, but unsurprising when Chewbacca glanced down and away, unable to return the sentiment. Ben could see he was torn without a word from his mouth. He never knew Chewbacca to be good at hiding his feelings.

Chewbacca spoke low and slow, in his native tongue, which might as well have been plain Standard to Ben, having been raised speaking Shyriiwook.

"Understand, Ben, emotions are running high right now. I cannot so easily say the same," Chewbacca said.

Ben gave an inaudible sigh. He had never seen Chewbacca so restrained; part of him wished the Wookie would have just torn into him, throwing out all of his anger and grievances that Ben had earned over the years. But Chewbacca was holding back, and to Ben, it came off as offensive.

"I did not expect you to. In fact, I half expected you to tear my head off back there when we first landed," Ben said.

Chewbacca found no levity in the statement and was silent. He once again avoided Ben's eyes, yet, the young Solo knew him well enough to know he could pry some emotion out of him. It did not occur to him as selfish but promised. In his mind, the only reaction worse than anger or sadness, was apathy.

"Why don't you speak your mind? We both know you have a lot to say to me, so go ahead," Ben said.

There was a tense pause before Chewbacca responded.

"Do you feel any remorse over the things you've done?" He asked.

His words, on the form of growls and groans, were slow and simmering.

Ben raised a brow, expecting a bit more—but it was a start.

"Of course, I do. Every day," Ben replied.

"Then why are you here?"

Ben was slightly taken back but thought hard at the question. Some genetically entrenched part of him wanted to make a cynical, snarky remark but he refrained. He breathed and gave a small shrug.

"I don't know, Chewie. I wouldn't even be alive, let alone here, if it wasn't for Rey. I'm at her mercy," Ben said.

At the mention of Rey, Chewbacca looked into his eyes and regarded him carefully. Something in his demeanor changed.

"You should have taken your second chance and disappeared, Ben," Chewbacca said.

Ben's anger was growing. Why was Chewbacca holding back and treating him like some old acquaintance? Ben knew he deserved more than that, even if it meant he deserved to be verbally thrashed. He wanted it—he wanted that satisfaction, that catharsis. But if Chewbacca was not going to give him the seriousness he expected, then neither was he. Ben took on a lighter, dry humorous tone.

"Truth be told, I wanted to, but there are bigger things at work, Chew. The Universe works in mysterious ways," Ben said.

He placed a palm on each knee.

Chewbacca stared at him, unamused but still apathetic. It drove Ben mad, sending his blood boiling beneath the skin. He could not explain it. Ben locked eyes with Chewbacca, sitting up tall. His face took on a tense expression, reliving the moment on the walkway of the Starkiller.

"Why didn't you just kill me when you had the chance?" Ben asked.

His voice was stern and deep. All sense of feigned levity was squashed. Chewbacca gave a nearly imperceptible tilt of the head, but Ben noticed. The Wookie's face hardened as his jaw set. The spark was there, but Ben had to fan the flame.

"After I killed Han, you had a clear shot, but you intentionally missed. Why didn't you just end me there?" Ben said.

A sense of relief came over Ben as the words left his mouth and Chewbacca threw his arms up, letting out a threatening roar. It was exactly what Ben wanted to hear—it was the pain he deserved.

"You! You're asking why I spared the child whose father I owed my life to! The child I watched grow into a monstrous evil! In cold blood you cut down your own father, and now you speak of him as though you never knew him! How dare you!" Chewbacca roared.

Had the structure not been built of dense plascrete, the roars might have drawn the attention of those back at the main hangar. For that, Ben was grateful they could hash out such an argument without interruption.

Ben had to restrain himself from getting drunk on Chewbacca's anger, as the darkness poked at him to demand more. The power surged through him as he felt it settle in his core and mind. The darkness made him focused even if the anger presented as a chaotic force. But his goal was not to feed that hunger, so he focused on what little of the Light he could muster. He extended his feelings across the Klosslands, until he felt Rey's faint presence. Just the thought of her counteracted the darkness.

"Stop holding back! Say what you've been wanting to say to me for all these years!" Ben demanded.

He stood up from the bed.

Chewbacca threw his hands up again, balling them into tight fists, yet he never took a step towards Ben.

"I hate you, Ben! I hate what you've done to our family! You took everything from us, and now you're trying to take everything left from the Resistance! Your selfishness has no bounds, your destruction knows no end! I couldn't take your life on the Starkiller but I should have!" He paused, breathing heavily as his nostrils flared, "Your father loved you! He loved you with every fiber of his being! If he could have given himself for you, he would have, and he did! And look at you! Unchanged, ungrateful, a shell of the boy I knew! You should be ashamed to show your face here, in the sanctuary of your mother's creation!"

The Wookie's shoulders heaved with each breath as his voice was spent. His eyes blazed with passion and disgust, and his body was animated and virile. It was the exact reaction Ben had wanted from his old friend. In Ben's twisted world, it meant Chewbacca cared more than he let on. It meant he still cared about what became of Ben. It meant he thought something of him, rather than nothing, even if that something was vitriol.

And yet…it stung…more than he thought it would.

Ben was lost for words. After the initial high of adrenaline and emotion wore off, all that was left was the sentiment. Both of them seemed to be taken back by it. Ben's shoulders dropped and his knees buckled, suddenly seating him back on the edge of the mattress. It's not like anything Chewbacca had said was news to him, but to hear it from his childhood guardian —it might as well have been his father. Ben swallowed hard and looked inwards, his eyes growing heavy. He thought his emotional walls would have protected him, and yet, his heart grew cold with solemnity.

As Chewbacca came down from the outburst, he was suddenly struck with regret. He meant everything he had said, but some things never changed—looking at Ben, an older, wearier, haunted version of the boy he once knew, his heart softened with the undying love of a father and friend. He was torn. Ben had taken everything from him, and yet, Ben still meant everything to him. It was a conflict of the heart he would never wish on his worst enemy. It had pained him to say the things that needed to be said. Chewbacca could see in the young man's face how it stained him. Two lone tears spilled over from Chewbacca's eye, soaking into his fur, never to be seen by Ben. This boy, he thought, truly had made monsters out of all of them.

At this moment, as they sat in dreadful silence, introspective, Chewbacca was returned to a memory. He hardly remembered the colors of the room, or the weather, or the day, but he remembered him and Ben, just as they were now. Ben was quite young—to Chewbacca, he always would be—but close to leaving for Luke's academy. Ben was sitting on the edge of his bed, and Chewbacca was standing a short distance from him. Neither of them could look each other in the eye; as of late, Ben had hardly looked anyone in the eye. It would be one of the last times they saw each other. He could not recall what was said, but he knew the conversation had been tense and critical.

Go away. Leave me alone, Ben had said.

They were the only words that had stuck—words that were often uttered by the troubled child. As quickly as the memory surfaced, it dissipated.

Chewbacca was returned to the present, when instead of shunning him, Ben's voice addressed him quite softly. Looking to the floor, Ben pressed his palms together as he put himself back on that fateful walkway.

"From the second I ignited the lightsaber, I knew I was wrong. I knew I had made a terrible mistake," Ben began.

Chewbacca looked to him, burdened by sorrow, feeling as though he was there, too.

"I never felt I was in the 'right', but I just wanted the pain to stop. I thought by killing him I could…stop…feeling," Ben said.

He gave a small motion with his hands, that shrugged with his shoulders. His face contorted as though anguished. Chewbacca could feel Ben's soul eking out, the one he had seen many years before the dark side had a hold on him.

The Wookie's jaw set, not out of anger, but sadness.

"I wasn't thinking straight, Chewie. I wasn't thinking about the family, or him, or you, or anything. All I could feel was pain," he paused, "I was told if I did it, the pain would stop. I would be free. I was wrong. I should have known better. I should have dropped that lightsaber. I should have gone home. I wasn't thinking, and now my father and mother are dead. Even the twisted world I created for myself is nothing but ashes now. I have nothing left."

There was a long pause as the room healed. Chewbacca stared at him, but Ben did not meet his eyes. He gave a few short growls, to which Ben finally met his gaze. The simple words were enough to ground him.

No, not nothing.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Ben asked again.

His voice was low and soft. He did not ask to offend or irritate, but out of pure guilt. Chewbacca simply closed his eyes, letting a calm, deep sigh spill from his throat. Their eyes focused, and Chewbacca's soft tone only validated what they both already knew.

Because I loved you. I still love you.

The two exchanged a long look, one that said more than any spoken language. Years of heart swam between them, as the bond they shared, while torn and neglected, still tied them together. In Chewbacca, Ben was reminded of his father, and in Ben, Chewbacca was reminded of his beloved son. There was too much history, trust, and hope to be lost in some jungle ruin in the middle of nowhere.

Chewbacca stared into Ben's soul as the last light of day disappeared over the horizon. He was truly seeing him for the first time. He saw a man who had committed horrible, soulless acts. He saw a boy from Chandrila, haunted by ghosts. He saw a Solo, wise beyond his years and forced to grow up too soon. He saw an Organa, dignified and battle-ready, with a heart of fire. He saw a leader, a friend, a knight, and a brother.

He saw Ben. Just Ben.