2

The Falcon's ramp came down to let in the harsh white sunlight and spring forest scents. Poe disembarked first with Chewier, followed by Ben with his hands bound, and Finn and Jannah, weapons raised, bringing up the rear.

A large crowd had gathered on the landing pad, and as soon as he emerged, murmurs passed over it.

"I don't believe it."

"How did he do it?"

"He doesn't look that scary."

Ben didn't pay attention to the conversations about him. The one person he expected to see, whose presence he anticipated and dreaded the most, wasn't there. Instead, he had to face another familiar figure.

"Dammit," Lando Calrissian snapped, clenching his face. "You look so much like him."

Ben nodded. "I'm sorry, Uncle Lando."

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it, kid."

Ben nodded again, and glanced at Lando's holster. "If turning that blaster on myself would help destroy Palpatine, I would gladly do it. But that's not how it works."

"Finally got a little wisdom into yourself, I see."

Ben couldn't spot the speaker at first, until some of the crowd parted to let the diminutive figure through. He knew who this was, though he'd never met her, from his Dad's and Chewie's tales.

"You're Maz Kanata."

"And you're Ben Solo.

"Come here," she gestured, and Ben knelt to bring his head to her level. She lifted the goggles and peered into his eyes.

"You still have a hunger in you." That prompted concern from Lando and Finn, who moved their hands to weapons. Maz waved them away. "Not for power, not anymore."

"I thought power would mean no one could hurt me."

"And you learned that the greatest pain is the one you inflict upon yourself."

"So there's no way?"

"To avoid pain entirely? Not until you pass on into the Force." She looked amused. "Which you just said you do not wish to do just yet."

"That's... not quite what I said."

"It's what you meant. The hunger. Any hunger can destroy you, not just the one for power. Tread carefully, young Solo. The path of light is not smoother than that of darkness."

The words from Kanata reminded Ben of things Uncle Luke taught him and the other students at the Jedi school-and to Ben's greatest surprise yet, no hatred boiled up at the thought of Luke's betrayal. He could use the memory to call up the dark side on command, but now... it was just sad. Even the details of the memory itself seemed different.

Maz interrupted his thoughts.

"Ask," she commanded.

"What happened to the Force Bond?"

"You changed. She changed. The Bond needs to change, too."

"Not very clear."

"You remember what it's like. Pull on that memory. It will give you more than my words can." She turned away. "I must go now."

Ben turned to Lando. "You people have done quite a job on them," Lando accused. "I'm told there's no place for prisoners because the Resistance never needed one."

"I can't run from myself."

"Running ain't why you're not trusted."

"Can I just... see her?"

Lando looked into his eyes for a long time. "Come on." Finn and Jannah bracketed him and moved across the Resistance base.

"You're back!" Someone exclaimed, and leaped at Finn, embracing him. "We were so worried."

"We're good, Rose," Finn said. "Oh, sorry," he turned to Jannah. "Jannah, Rose Tico. Rose, Jannah. She's like me. A stormtrooper deserter."

"Nice to meet you," Rose shook Jannah's hand. She then assessed the group. "Where's Rey? And who-" she realized who she was seeing and reached for her blaster.

"Rose, no!"

"You're the Supreme Leader."

"He surrendered."

"Then throw him in the brig."

"I will go there," Ben said, "after I see my mother."

Dr. Kalonia cast a worried look at Rose. "Lando agreed to this?"

Ben stood over the immobile body of his mother, tears streaming from his eyes. "I'm sorry, mom," he whispered, and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm so sorry."

He faced them. "What was that about?" Rose asked.

"She's still alive."

"I knew that," Kalonia said. "But she's like a coma patient. Barely any brain activity."

"I tried to reach her in the Force."

"Did you?"

"No."

"Then-"

"I don't know what it means!" he exclaimed. He let a droid part float in mid-air between them and spun it rapidly. "Thinks like that-I can do just as well as I ever did. But anything mental-Rey, her-just doesn't go through." He snorted. "You won't have to worry about me mind-tricking the guards."

"Is that a plea for pity?"

"It's a plea for knowledge." The realization hit him. "Oh. Oh. That's what she meant."

"Huh?"

"I'll tell you when I understand."

Rose shrugged. "You can understand in a cell."

"Alright."

Rose gestured and several Resistance troopers fell in besides them, convoying Ben out of the medical tent and across the landing field to a battered Corellian corvette. He gout a laugh when he had to point out the way to the brig for the escort.

"He says he can't do the mind trick anymore, but I don't trust him," Rose said to the guards. "Keep an eye on each other."

The cell was the barest minimum-four bunks, and a large canteen of water near the head for each. Ben spotted two security cameras instantly, and there were probably more.

Or maybe there aren't. The First Order would definitely have more, but this wasn't the First Order. Ben drank some water, then stretched out on the bottom bunk and closes his eyes. Again, he tried to connect with Rey in the Force. Again, he failed. He was in the middle of another attempt to reach Leia when sleep overtook him.

When he awoke, Ben found that his canteen had been refilled, and several ration bars had been left next to it. He ate the food quickly, still consumed by his thoughts. The Force had definitely changed, and he was not able to reach either Rey or his mother.

The Force hasn't changed. You changed.

He knocked on the brig door. A shutter opened, revealing the face of a Bith guard.

"What do you want?"

"Can I speak to Finn?"

"That's General Finn," the Bith said.

Ben smiled. "Tell him he deserves it. And tell him I want to speak with him."

"And if he refuses?"

Ben opened his arms. "I can't make him."

"I'll pass it on, First Order," the Bith said and sealed the viewport.

Ben had to wait for about a half hour before the door opened. Finn stepped in, blaster rifle in hand. "This better be important."

"You heard from Rey?" Ben asked.

"No." He shook his head. "You?"

"No. I think it's the will of the Force at work."

Finn scowled. "Is that useful?"

"Maybe. Maybe I need to do something."

"If you think you can smooth-talk us to let you go-"

"That would be futile. But I came up with an idea of doing something from here."

"Involving me?"

Ben nodded. "Ever thought about helping others do what you did?"

"What do you mean?"

"Other stormtroopers. Break the First Order conditioning."

"Thought? Of course. But it never looked possible-I was unique."

"Jannah."

"It all makes sense. We have the Force."

"So do I, and I was trapped. But now that you know it's the Force-it can be used."

Finn considered. "Sneaking onto a Star Destroyer isn't easy."

"Speaking from experience?" Ben grinned.

Finn snorted. "You know I am."

"That's where I can help, so you don't have to infiltrate anywhere."

"How?"

"Remember Luke Skywalker on Crait?"

"He wasn't really there."

"The body wasn't. It's not your crude matter that broke away from the Order in the first place. It won't be crude matter that will persuade others."

"I don't know how to do that."

"I do."

Finn considered. "And you want to teach me."

"Eventually, maybe. But I don't think there's time. Is Jannah still here?"

"She is. You want her in this, too?"

"She did the same thing you did. My idea is that we-all three of us-join our minds in the Force. I will let you project, you two can pull out the brainwashing, and between the three of us, we can share the strength so that no one dies from the effort."

"Dies?"

"Like Luke. He was alone. But Rey and I could project to each other."

"Isn't that because of a bond?"

"Bonds are made and broken. I wouldn't force it even if I could. It's up to you and Jannah."

"I'll speak with her," Finn said, and left the cell.