Star Wars Episode IX: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 21: I Did Want to Take Your Hand

Poe and Leia listened to Finn intently as he recalled the conversation between him and Ben only a short time ago. Ben Solo stood quiet and still. He seemed to want to disappear-- not from his responsibilities, but from the attention. He did not like the feeling of all the eyes of the Resistance in him as they not-so-subtly eavesdropped on the General's conversation. They still didn't trust him and though he did not blame them, he wished he would stop being the center of attention. Ben almost wished that he could hide behind the safety of his mask once again; at least then he had some protection from their prying eyes. His thoughts were broken as the dark haired general finally spoke up.

"I was worried that Rey's knowledge of our location would eventually come back to bite us. There was just a part of me that hoped she wouldn't ever act on it." He said somberly, glancing at Leia as she nodded in agreement. "Rey has waited long enough on this information. The Final Order is only growing across the galaxy. I don't think we have much time at all." Her eyes shifted to her son. She noticed how he seemed to shy away from the group, his dark clothing blending into the wall of the cave. "Ben," She called, watching his eyes meet hers, "how long do you think we have?"

Ben stayed silent as he thought it through. Honestly, he was surprised they had lasted this long. She wanted to end the Jedi and any source of light weeks ago when he was still with her. He did not know how much longer she would hesitate. If the Final Order was growing as the Resistance scouts across the galaxy reported it was, they certainly did not have time at all. He then thought to the cunning new General Rey had appointed before he left. The man was ruthless and calculated. The strategic nature of them both lead to a very deadly combination. He took a step forward, feeling the intense gazes of the Resistance as he began to speak.

"Rey was ready to take out any Jedi or sources of Light in the galaxy weeks ago. She has held off her attack on account of her new General, Carden. He is a very strategic man which would explain why they haven't attacked yet. When they do, I don't think it would be in the same way as Takodana. He knows the Resistance would reform somewhere else. They will most likely launch a ground invasion while also controlling the atmosphere. I don't see either of them hesitating for much longer." Ben explained, his eyes moving from his mother to Poe and Finn. The three of them nodded. Poe was hesitant as he spoke up. "So, when do you think she'll... invade?" He asked. "I don't know exactly, but soon." Ben said.

Finn stayed silent for a moment before letting out a breath. "I think we need to leave now." The rashness of his statement caught all of them around him off guard as their heads snapped to face him. "Now? Are you serious?" Poe questioned, making Finn shrug and cross his arms over his chest. "Well, yeah. There's really no point in waiting for their Star Destroyers to be in our atmosphere to move everyone out. If we know they're coming and soon, why wait?" Finn countered. "We have an entire army to move out, it's going to take time." Leia said. "Exactly," Finn began as he slid off the table and to his feet, "we have an entire army. So we need to figure out a place to go and start heading out now. What if they come tomorrow? We need to be gone before they get here. For once we can have the element of surprise on them. Rey will have no knowledge of where we are once we move and we can really start to think of how we can bring them down and get her home." Finn explained.

Rose, who was listening from a few tables away, approached the group. "Where would we go? It's not like there are a lot of planets that are ready enough to house an army and that aren't occupied by the Final Order. We have nowhere to go." She said sadly. A silence fell over them as they weighed her words. She was right, they did have no place to go. The Final Order had a grip on nearly every planet and if not, they had spies that would be looking for them. They needed a hidden place, one the Final Order would never think of going to...