Into the Fray

Chapter Two

 It had taken Kylo--no, Ben--a full day of rest to get rid of the headache he had developed from all crying so much. After he was spent, he had tried desperately to explain things to his mother. Leia had shushed him, helping him to his feet and to the table. She wasn't interested in his searing pain and want for redemption just yet; she was curious what had changed, and why now.

Ben had sat, nose stuffy and head pounding, eyes feeling like sand, turning his mother's question over and over again in his mind. Finally he gave the lame, but truthful, response to her. He didn't know.

After that she had sent him to bed. When the pair exited the conference room, they found Rey curled up on one of the couches. She was fast asleep. They woke her up as Ben slipped his hood back up. Leia led them to the residential section where she had rented them a two bedroom room.

When the next morning came, he found his head was still pounding. Ben begged Leia and Rey to let him be. They, thankfully, obliged. He had slept all day. It was thankfully dreamlessly.

Now the three of them sat, back in the conference room, eating a simple breakfast.

"Are you feeling better Ben?" Leia asked, noticing he moved his food around his plate more than he actually ate anything.

Ben lifted his head, surprised she was talking to him. Everything was still so... Surreal. He looked at Rey, who smiled at him. To his shock the air was relaxed and jovial. No hostility toward him whatsoever.

"Oh. Yes, thank you. I'm just not much of a breakfast eater..." He took a sip of water. "Or anything, for that matter."

"How's your head?" Rey asked.

"Fine."

Awkward silence. It was making Ben uncomfortable. He put his eating utensil down, looking across the table at his mother.

"Cloud City? I never would have thought to look here for you. It's too, too..."

Leia smirked. "Obvious? Have you ever heard of hiding in plain sight before?"

Despite himself, Ben flushed and looked down. Leia immediately reached across the table and patted his hand. "That wasn't a jab, Ben."

"It's ingenious," he replied, looking at her. "Dangerous, but ingenious."

"It was Rey's idea."

Now Rey flushed, ducking her head. "I just wanted a secure location for us to meet with the General, and with how steeped in history this planet is, I just figured no one would bother to look here for her. It'd be stupid for her to come back."

Ben rose his eyebrows. "Excellent plan."

The trademark mischievous look twinkled in Leia's eyes. "Speaking of plans. With your absence yesterday, it left me with a bit of time to think. I have formulated a plan. Now, it won't be easy, but if we play our cards right it will be a huge boost for the Resistance."

A silence fell over the room. Leia looked between the pair. Finally, Ben spoke.

"Go on."

"You need to go back to the First Order."

Ben had picked the wrong time to attempt to eat something. He almost choked, and Rey patted him on the back. He held up a finger, signaling her to stop, and downed the rest of his drink. Taking a deep breath, he looked at his mother.

"I thought I heard you say you wanted me to go back to the First Order."

"Yes. Go to them and we will set up some sort of rendezvous. Or you can establish a secure link where you can feed us information--"