A New Force

Chapter XI: And So, The Darkness Follows

"You-what?"  Poe regarded him, turning in his seat. 

Chewbacca repeated himself for the trio.

I have my nephew back.

The sentence warmed Rey's heart, and she looked at Ben's face, shocked to see the biggest smile she'd ever seen.  It didn't exactly sit the same way with her friends.

"Glad somebody's enjoying themselves,"  Finn muttered, shoving past Ben and making his way to the loading doors. 

"Ah, don't worry about him,"  Rey sighed, "He tends to pout." 

"He wants to come with us.  To Ilum."  She had never heard the Solo boy's voice sound so carefree before.

"Sure!  That's a good idea, Chewie." 

Poe cleared his throat.

"Now  where are you going?"

Rey motioned to Ben, looking back at her friend in the pilot's seat.  "He needs to build a saber." 

"Oh good, give the reformed homicidal maniac a weapon." He muttered, causing Ben's smile to fade and Rey to kick him in the leg.  Poe threw up his hands, "Okay, okay! Jeez, Rey."  He rubbed his leg and shot her a silent "if looks could kill" face.

"When should we leave?"

"Sooner rather than later.  I don't think my presence is welcomed here quite yet."  Ben looked out the window of the cockpit, watching Finn's back quickly recede deeper into the Resistance camp.

"We'll have to get more supplies, and then we can leave."  Rey grimaced, "Maybe just... stay in the ship." 

Chewie laughed and rubbed the top of Ben's head with his paw.

"Yeah, have fun.  Chewie's the Dejarik master," Poe laughed for a split second, looking at Ben, and then immediately wiped the smile off his face when he realized what he'd done.  He cleared his throat.  "I mean... I'm coming with you guys."

The sentence shocked Rey. 

Poe gave her a look, as if to say, "No way in hell you're jetting off to some distant planet with him and his new furry best friend." 

It was silent as she considered his words.

"Does he have to come?"

Ben's voice rang through her head and she sent him a warning look.

"Want to win my friends' trust?  Now's the time."

She considered the journey ahead, and how it would most likely consist of two bickering boys and a laughably over-excited Wookie.  She also realized that she didn't really have a say in the matter.

Well, this should be fun.

--

ONE MONTH LATER

"I hate to break it to you, Rey, but I think Ben won."  

She glared at Poe, who was sitting on a crate observing the two in the middle of the main hold.  Chewie yelled, nodding his head enthusiastically.  

"Thanks, Chewie."  Ben said, smirking at the girl in front of him.  

She crossed her arms, "I've still won more than you have."  Rey tossed her staff on the ground, crossing to the Dejarik table where her water was.  BB-8 rolled around excitedly through her feet, assuring her that he still thinks she won the duel.  She patted the happy droid, earning a musical string of beeps.