Echos of the Force

Chapter 5: The Aftermath

The Falcon sailed through the serene expanse of space, the stormy turmoil of Exegol now far behind them. The ship's interior was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engines and the occasional beep from R2-D2, who monitored the ship's systems with quiet efficiency.

Rey and Ben sat together in the ship's small medbay, a quiet tension hanging in the air. Ben was still weak from his attempt to transfer his life force to Rey, his energy depleted, but he was awake and alert, his hand resting lightly on hers. Rey, now fully recovered, kept a close eye on him, worry etched into her features.

"You need to rest," she said softly, her thumb gently brushing over his knuckles. "You've done enough for today, Ben."

He gave her a small, weary smile, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—something that hinted at the lingering shadows of his past. "I'm okay," he replied, though his voice was strained. "I just need a little time."

Rey frowned, not entirely convinced, but she didn't push. She knew better than anyone how hard it could be to let go of old habits, especially when those habits had been forged in darkness. Instead, she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to carry it all on your own anymore. I'm here with you."

Ben's gaze softened, and he nodded, though the weight of everything they had been through still hung heavily in the air between them. "I know," he said quietly. "And I'm grateful for that. But it's... it's not easy."

Rey understood. The scars of the past were not easily healed, and the battle against the darkness was far from over. But she was determined to help him, just as he had helped her. She squeezed his hand gently, offering him a small smile of encouragement.

"We'll take it one step at a time," she said. "Together."

Ben nodded, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "Together," he echoed, the word carrying a sense of finality, as if he was making a promise—not just to her, but to himself.

The door to the medbay slid open, and Finn stepped inside. His expression was guarded, a mixture of concern and something deeper—something warier. He hadn't said much since they'd left Exegol, and it was clear that his thoughts were heavy.

"Hey," Finn began, his tone neutral as he addressed Rey. "How are you two holding up?"

"We're okay," Rey replied, glancing over at Ben. "Just... recovering."

Finn nodded slowly, his eyes lingering on Ben for a moment longer than necessary. There was an unmistakable tension in the air, one that Rey felt keenly. Finn's wariness wasn't just concern—it was a lingering doubt, a caution born from everything Kylo Ren had done.

"You both scared the hell out of me back there," Finn said, his gaze shifting between them. "That was... intense."

Ben gave a small, rueful smile, but there was no humor in it. "Sorry about that," he said quietly. "It wasn't... I didn't mean to worry you."

Finn's eyes narrowed slightly, and though he didn't say anything, the unspoken question hung in the air: How could he not be worried? How could he trust that the man who had once been Kylo Ren, who had caused so much pain and destruction, was truly gone?

Rey felt the tension, and she could see the unease in Finn's eyes. He had always been protective of her, and now that protectiveness had turned into something else—something more cautious, more skeptical. She couldn't blame him for it, but it hurt to see the distance that had grown between them.

"Finn," Rey said gently, trying to bridge the gap. "Ben's here with us now. He's on our side."

Finn met her gaze, his expression softening slightly, but there was still a flicker of doubt. "I know, Rey," he replied, his voice low. "But after everything... it's hard to just forget."