Forgotten, But Not Lost

Chapter 67

Rey's mind was in turmoil and peace all at the same time. Rey hadn't stopped for longer than a few seconds from the moment Ahsoka met her with the unconscious bodies of Ben, Amar, and their Daughters. Rey was determined to get them all safely onboard the Falcon and off to Ajan Kloss.

The Falcon landed with Chewie rushing down the ramp to help Rey and Ahsoka get everyone on board. Chewie immediately knew his services would help immensely in carrying Ben up the ramp. Even in the force, Ben was a large man to move, let alone carrying him.

Chewie hoisted Ben in his arms and made his way back up the ramp. Maru steadily came down the ramp, her face showing one of sorrow. Rey instantly knew Maru must have felt Ezra's passing through the force. How could she have forgotten that? Rey rushed over to Maru. No words were spoken. Rey reached her and grabbed the graying woman and embraced her. Maru's arms wrapped tightly around Rey.

Maru pulled back to find fresh tears streaming down Rey's face. There was going to be a moment to mourn her husband, but for now she needed to get her Daughter and Granddaughters on board the ship and off this planet. Maru nodded to Rey as a thank you and continued on to find her Daughter laying on the ground in some kind of healing coma.

Ahsoka hoisted Tana into her arms and looked toward Maru.

"I am so sorry Maru. Ezra will always be with you." Ahsoka placed a hand on her shoulder and sent a wave of the force to her in a calming way to remind her of his peace within the force. Maru smiled back at her with contentment. Maru quickly grabbed Iris in her arms and followed Ahsoka back into the ship. Rey levitated Amar up and then grasped behind her back and her legs and carried her up the ramp of the Falcon.

Everyone brought the family into the Captain's quarters to lay them on the bed and the couch that resided in there. Ahsoka and Maru remained in the room with them, in case either one of them woke suddenly.

Rey and Chewie made their way to the cockpit to start their journey back to Ajan Kloss. Rey prepped the Falcon for hyperspace. As the engines warmed back up, Rey sighed in relief. The first part of the journey was done, Chewie noticed her sigh and grin on her face. He landed his heavy furry hand on her shoulder and patted it, Rey beamed at him and continued on the Falcon.

As soon as her sigh of relief had come to pass, another sigh came, but not in the same way. Rey knew she needed to reach out to Poe and let them know they were successful in bringing Ben back. Rey knew what that meant to the Resistance, Rey was single handedly bringing in enemy number one from the First Order. Obviously, Poe knew the story and how Palpatine was behind everything, but at the end of the day, Ben still had blood on his hands, whether or not it was intentional. Rey would have to find a way to compromise with both parties, Poe needed some kind of satisfaction and Ben to be fully reunited with his family.

Rey picked up the com, she reached out for the line that would get her to the General of the New Republic. Rey's anxiety shot up to the roof, as she waited for Poe to pick up.

A crackle came through and then a husky voice came over the com.

"Rey?! Rey is that you?" Poe sounded concerned, like he hadn't heard from her in months. It had only been a day at most.

"Poe, relax everything is okay. We have just boarded the Falcon and are making our journey back to Ajan Kloss. We were successful in our mission." Rey didn't go into detail for a reason. Ben Solo was still a touchy subject with all that Kylo Ren had done, rightfully so.

Rey could hear Poe take a long breath in and exaggerated exhale out. Rey knew she was putting him in a tricky situation, but it was necessary.

"Amar and her Daughters, along with Ben are unconscious from the World Between Worlds. We have them aboard, but they will need immediate medical attention when we land." Rey kept it strictly business for now. They were still people as a whole and needed help.

Poe took a minute or two to respond to Rey.

"Very well, Amar and her Daughters will go directly to the med bay. As for Solo, we will detain him in a cell and see that he gets the medical attention he needs. Over and out." With that Poe ended the conversation without giving Rey a moment to respond. Rey's face was shocked to say the least. Poe was being unreasonable, Ben needed to stay with his family and needed to be seen in the medical wing along with them.

Rey looked over to a gawking Chewbacca, she could clearly read his expression. Chewie held up his arms in defeat, like he knew what Rey was thinking. Rey made her way back to the Captains quarters as soon as Chewie engaged hyperspace.

In the Captain's quarters, Maru and Ahsoka were tending to Ben, Amar, and the girls. Each one of them took turns cooling their temperatures with a wet washcloth. Their temperatures seemed to be rising and they needed to regulate that, before it became more of a problem. Maru placed the wash cloth on Ben's forehead, he seemed to stir a little to the piercing cold rag. Maru watched the man she had never met with extreme worry on her face. She tenderly placed a hand along his cheek.

Through the force, Maru was met with grief and pain for the loss of his own Parents and Uncle. Maru understood completely at that moment for the loss he felt, his Mother was one that came through the strongest of the feelings, Ben had felt. Something about the loneliness of Ben made Maru feel the need to keep him safe.

Maru could feel the connection in the force he held to Amar and his younglings. The force was strong with this family, a bond that would be difficult to come between. Maru immediately felt a surge of protectiveness over Ben and his family. Of course, Maru had already felt that for Amar and the girls, but now to put a face to this Ben Solo and know this was the man Amar had deemed the love of her life, made it reality. There was no denying the force and what it told her. Ben Solo and Amar Bridger were truly the dyad in the force. Ezra died believing in his Daughter and that notion, Maru would protect that decision at all costs.

Rey force swooshed the blast doors open to the quarters and entered steadily. Ahsoka got up to see what the matter was, but Rey came over to both of them and the comatose passengers.

"We've got a problem. General Dameron wants to detain Ben once we land and only have him treated in his cell." Rey claimed as she looked to both Ahsoka and then to Maru.

Ahsoka rubbed her face in a way to show she was getting too old for this.

Maru's hand fell from Ben's face as she looked up to a heated Rey.

"Dameron will have to pry him from my dead hands if he wants that to happen. He can deal with me sweetheart, don't worry about it." Maru went back to caressing Ben's face. Clearly, Maru had said her peace and wanted no more talk on the matter. Rey was left feeling extremely impressed by the way Maru became so protective over a man she literally had never met.

Ahsoka grabbed Rey's arm and lead her outside the room.

"Clearly we will need to extinguish Dameron and allow him to see where we are coming from. He isn't force sensitive like us, so it is hard for someone like that to fully understand, but we must try." Ahsoka looked Rey dead in the eyes with all seriousness.

Rey nodded in agreement.

"And here I thought we had just accomplished the most difficult challenge." Rey mumbled to Ahsoka as she made her way back to the cockpit of the Falcon.