Saving the Monster

Chapter 60

"We come in peace, seeking permission to land" Rey said quickly as the Wookie continued to make its gruff demands over the com.

Silence then and Lando leant forwards, taking the com from Rey, "This is Lando Calrissian, seeking permission to land....repeat this is Lando Calrissian , seeking......". A loud click and then a softer mewing sound. Lando looked triumphant, "People, we're in"

Kashyyyk was greener, Rey thought, than anywhere else she'd ever been. Ben was looking at her, she felt the heat of his gaze and she reached out a hand to him, resting it softly on the small of his back, her mind sending out little words of comfort to him.

Ben knew how this might go, how they might react to the sight of him, and he was worried, scared, she could feel it through their bond.

When the shuttle touched down they immediately saw figures approaching through the dense undergrowth that surrounded the clearing that they had landed in.  Some looked bigger than Chewbacca, some looked smaller, all looked equally intimidating. 

Lando stood, holding his hand up,  "Let me do the talking".  Rey nodded and Ben did too, this was a conversation that they were both happy to hand over to Lando.

The door opened with a hiss and a puff of smoke.  When the smoke cleared Rey got her first glance at not only Chewbaccas home planet but also his extended family.  Next to her she heard Ben swallow nervously and she did the same, her mouth suddenly dry. 

If Lando was nervous he never showed it, he marched past them, down the ramp and Rey and Ben both watched as the largest of the assembled Wookies let out a short grunt and then embraced him, mewing and chortling his greetings. 

This Wookie was clearly of some importance.  His fur on either side of his face was held neatly in place by silver rings and he wore two heavy armoured plates on each shoulder.

When Lando stepped back from the Wookies embrace he turned, smiling broadly at where Rey and Ben stood, hidden by the shadows, "Come on out you two!" He yelled, signalling with his hand.

Rey glanced at Ben and he nodded once at her, his face set and determined, before they strode down the ramp and out, into the sunshine.

The response was immediate.  All at once the crowd of Wookies rushed forwards, growling and roaring.  Rey and Ben froze momentarily, shocked by the speed with which the crowd surged towards them.  But then Ben stepped in front of Rey, igniting the firery  red blade of his saber.  The crowd kept coming and Rey watched Bens arms stiffen, ready for attack, just as her own hand closed around her staff.

The Wookies were within striking distance when Landos voice rang out, "Stop!  You do not hurt these people, they are with me, both of them"

The Wookie army stopped, their heads spinning to look at Lando and then back to where Ben and Rey stood, weapons still raised.

The Wookie that Lando had embraced lifted a giant furry paw, stilling and quieting the crowd immediately, before grunting noisily.  Lando shook his head, turning to address the crowd, "No, this is not Kylo Ren anymore, he's renounced the First Order.  This is Ben Solo, son of Princess....". Lando trailed off before correcting himself, "General Organa.  We come seeking your help, she's in terrible danger"

Roars went up from the crowd, some supportive of a move to help Leia, but most wanting the monster killed.  The man who had brought such pain and suffering to the galaxy, the man that Rey was realising with every passing day was far from being a monster.  He was her soulmate. 

Rey stepped forwards now, holding her head high, despite the intimidating sea of Wookies, "If you don't help us then Leia will die,and with it the resistance and with that Chewbacca".

At the mention of that name the crowd fell silent again.  A thin, slightly stooped Wookie let out a chortle and then a whimper which Rey understood in part.  This was Chewbaccas mother and she already seemed to be mourning his death!  Were they really not going to do anything?

Ben pushed past Rey,ignoring the growls of the crowd and addressed Chewbaccas mother, "Your son is in danger and so is my mother.  I know that I truly have no right to be here, asking for your help but I can't stand by and allow the First Order to murder my mother.  Just the same as I know you won't be able to stand by and see that done to your son"  The Wookie whimpered slightly and then turned to the tall Wookie, who appeared to be called Tarrful and mewed at him softly.  Tarrful glanced at Ben, then at the crowd and then back at Chewbaccas mother, who let out a little, soft grunt.  Tarrful nodded once and then turned back to the crowd and held up his paws, the other Wookies looked at him expectantly and he roared loudly, followed by a burst of shorter roars.

  He had spoken and it was good news, they had a Wookie army onside!

Tarrful led Lando, Ben and Rey up a network of ladders and along walkways built high in the trees, until finally they reached a round hut perched amongst the canopy.  Tarrful led them inside, where they sat on ornately carved wooden benches. 

Between the three of them they explained what had happened and what was yet to happen if they did nothing and Tarrful listened intently, silently, never judging.  Finally, when they were done he grunted, he wanted to go to Ajan Kloss, to assemble his troops there, to be ready for the First Orders attack when it came.

Lando agreed.  They needed to get the rest of the resistance members in on this.  Rey agreed too in theory, although the thought of going back, of seeing those judging, disappointed  eyes look at her, scared her more than anything else and through the force she realised that Ben felt it too, he was terrified of the consequences of going there, but most of all he was afraid of being rejected by his mother.  That realisation caused Rey to push her foot out just enough that her boot touched his and through the force she whispered to him and told him it would be alright.

Trouble was Rey wasn't sure that even she believed that.

                                    *************************************

The Wookies had ships, lots of them, and more weapons than Rey had ever seen.  And little by little she began to feel more confident about taking this army to Leia.

Rey carried boxes of supplies on board the ships, followed by Lando who took what he could manage with his stick in one hand.  Ben, though he tried, still  wasn't welcome and every time he tried to help, a Wookie would launch a torrent of abuse at him, and so he sat on an outcrop of rock near his shuttle and waited, his eyes staring straight ahead, his fingers twisting in his lap.

Rey felt his emotions every time she looked at him.  He was hurt by the Wookies' rejection and yet at the same time he felt that he deserved it, in fact he was still in shock that Rey hadn't rejected him, that she had wanted him after all he'd done.

Rey smiled, pausing on her way to collect more boxes, her eyes on him.  Bens eyes swivelled to find hers and he nodded once at her. 

Rey realised, as the force hummed like static electricity around her, that their bond was growing.  The warmth that she felt towards him seemed to grow with every human emotion, thought or action he showed her.  He was a man, he was her man.  The thought thrilled her and her cheeks burned hot as she remembered the previous night.  She had to look away quickly from Ben, but not before his voice sounded in her head, bright and clear,

"I feel it too Rey, I feel it too".