by Rae Carson
* * *
—
Someone tried to patch through to Poe from below, and he flipped his frequency to take the comm.
“Finn didn’t board the lander,” came Rose’s voice.
“What?”
“They’re still on the command ship!”
All his relief at getting the fleet back online ebbed away. He could not lose Finn. He would not. He peeled his X-wing away from the attack and dove for the Steadfast. The command ship was now pointed tip-downward, ready to spear the planet’s surface.
His buddy had done that.
Scanners were near-useless in this atmosphere, so he could only do visual sweeps. There was a good chance the bridge explosion had taken Finn with it. But Poe wouldn’t give up, not until he had to. He’d just lost the Tantive IV and everyone on it. He needed to save as many of his people as he could.
He buzzed by a comm tower, now thrusting parallel to the ground, and he almost missed the two figures huddling together on top of it.
“I see them!” he said. “I’ll double back.”
“You won’t make it,” Tyce warned.
“Trust me, I’m fast!” he insisted, already turning his fighter around.
“Not as fast as this ship,” came Lando’s voice. “Hold on, Chewie!”
The Falcon meteored toward the Star Destroyer, then angled to come up from below.
* * *
—
Finn almost lost his grip when he saw the Falcon’s hull rise below him.
“Jannah!” he yelled, surging with hope.
“I know!”
They would have to time this just right. They’d have a few steps of running room along the side of the comm tower, and then nothing but air.
They gripped hands. Not just yet…Now! They took off running as Lando guided the hull closer. With all their might, they leapt…just as the Steadfast finally succumbed to gravity and dropped toward oblivion.
They landed hard on the Falcon’s hull; Finn’s ankle twisted. A hatch opened revealing Chewbacca, who waved at them to hurry. They sprinted across the top of the Falcon, Finn’s ankle screaming with each step, and finally dropped into the hold.
“Chewie, you got the kids?” Lando hollered from the cockpit.
Chewie roared confirmation, and the Falcon sped away.
Finn collapsed against the wall. He couldn’t believe they’d survived.
* * *
—
The Emperor was no more.
Rey gazed at the tumbled wreckage of the cathedral around her. She couldn’t feel her arms and legs. Vaguely, she heard the clink of her lightsabers hitting the ground—when had she let go of them?
She reached for the Force one last time…Some of her friends were surely still up there somewhere. She sensed…Finn! And…Jannah?
Giving absolutely everything was no big deal at all—compared to saving her friends.
She reached for Ben too, but her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.
* * *
—
Finn was running for the Falcon’s turret stations, Jannah on his heels.
Something rent his very soul, and he staggered, barely catching himself on the wall of the corrider.
“Rey,” he whispered.
She was gone. He had just begun to understand how her presence could weigh so strongly in his mind. He should have told her. He’d meant to.
Now he’d never have the chance.
“Finn?” Jannah prompted, as agonized tears streamed down his cheeks.
Chewbacca asked what was wrong.
But Finn’s breath had left him completely, and he couldn’t respond.
* * *
—
Ben’s fall had been caught on a jagged outcropping. His ankle was twisted, and he was pretty sure he’d broken at least two ribs. But he had to get back to the throne room.
Because he couldn’t sense Rey at all.
The climb up was agonizing. Each time he reached for a handhold, a hot knife of pain stabbed his left side. Dizziness threatened to send him tumbling back into the abyss, but he kept on, one hand over the other, until finally his fingers grasped the top.
He hauled himself over the side. Paused a moment to catch his breath. Dragged himself to his feet.
Ben made it only a few steps before he crumpled, forced himself to his feet yet again, limped forward.
He could see her now, collapsed on the floor, and the pain in his chest was suddenly so much worse than that of a couple of broken ribs.
She seemed at ease, almost as though she were sleeping, except her eyes were wide and staring, lifeless and dull.
He hardly knew what he was doing as he crouched beside her, wrapped his arms around her limp form, yanked her onto his lap. Rey’s skin was growing cold. Her barren eyes stared up at him, and he imagined them accusing him. You did this. This is your fault.
No, Rey would never be that way. Those thoughts were the vestiges of Snoke’s conditioning. Rey was good. Kind. No matter what had happened between them, what he’d done, she’d always showed him compassion.
He cast his gaze around the ruined cathedral, as if answers might lie in the shadows. But there was nothing. Just aching emptiness and a sense of loss so sharp and terrible it was like a vise around his gut.
Ben pulled her against his chest and hugged her to himself for a moment. He’d just found her, really found her. He’d wasted his life, he knew that now. But anyone who could have shown him the way forward, helped him be Ben again, was gone. Luke. His parents. And now Rey.
He couldn’t make himself believe it. Rey was the strongest person he’d ever known. She’d fought off the darkness in a way he never could. She’d saved everyone. She deserved better.
As he held her, he sensed something. The tiniest spark. And he realized: The Force hadn’t taken her yet.
He knew exactly what Rey would do, in his place. It was the easiest decision he’d ever made.
He cradled her gently and placed his hand on her abdomen. He closed his eyes. Called on the Force. Ben didn’t have much strength left, and he was about to do something he’d never done before. Fortunately, Rey had shown him how to give.
Ben poured everything into her. He found reservoirs he didn’t know he had. He gave her his whole self.
Her diaphragm rose with a breath, and her warm hand covered his. Her eyes lit up.
Rey seemed surprised to see him. She sat up, but she didn’t draw away.
They stared at each other a moment. He waited for her to understand what had just happened. It would be okay if she left him behind now. Got on with her life without a backward glance at him. It’s what she should do.
Instead she smiled, and she whispered, “Ben!”
She was glad to see him. Glad to be with him in this moment. It was the greatest gift she could have given him.
His heart was full as Rey reached for his face, let her fingers linger against his cheek. And then, wonder of wonders, she leaned forward and kissed him. A kiss of gratitude, acknowledgement of their connection, celebration that they’d found each other at last.
But then she drew back, concern on her face. She could feel him growing cold.
Ben smiled at her.
He had given Rey back to the galaxy. It wouldn’t atone for the darkness he’d wrought, but it was what he could do.
Ben Solo had no regrets as he collapsed to the ground. The Force reached for him in welcome. His final awareness was of Rey, clasping his hand with her own.
* * *
—
Rey stood over the place Ben had fallen, staring down at his empty tunic. Tears streamed down her face.
He had sacrificed everything for her.
She did not mourn Kylo Ren. She would never mourn Kylo Ren. But she dearly woul
d have loved the chance to get to know Ben Solo. It felt like half of her was missing, and she supposed it was. The girl who had felt alone for all those years on Jakku had been part of a dyad the whole time. And just when she’d discovered that precious connection, that incredible oneness, it was ripped away.
A voice came to her through the Force, clear and strong. I will always be with you, Ben said.
She smiled. Let the truth of it wash over her. “No one’s ever really gone,” she whispered.
She retrieved her lightsabers and sprinted from the ruined cathedral.
* * *
—
The moment Rey came back to herself, Finn knew.
He launched himself out of the turrent seat—no one was pursuing them anyway—climbed the ladder and sprinted for the cockpit.
“Chewie, I felt her!” he said.
Chewie roared, something about wishful thinking and shouldn’t he be back at the turret station watching their backs?
“I’m certain of it,” Finn said, scanning the horizon from the viewport. Debris was falling everywhere. Exegol was going to be a wasteland after this. Not that it had been paradise to begin with. But all those Star Destroyers were going to smolder for years.
There was no sign of Rey.
Neither Chewie nor Lando continued to insist that he leave the cockpit, so he stayed, searching, searching, searching…
“There!” he yelled pointing to a battered T-65 X-wing. Then he hollered into his wristlink: “Look. Red Five is in the air. Rey’s alive!”
“I see her,” Poe acknowledged.
Finn didn’t think the moment could get any better, but then a transmission beeped on the comms console. Chewie jabbered with excitement.
“People are rising up all over the galaxy, Poe,” Finn informed him. “We did it!”
He heard the smile in the pilot’s voice as he said, “We did it.”
* * *
—
C-3PO couldn’t take his photoreceptors off the console. His friends were out there, fighting and dying.
The last transmission he’d received from R2-D2 had been to warn them about a strange electrical storm that was making it hard to keep General Poe’s X-wing in the air. “Oh, dear,” C-3PO said, over and over again.
Then the tide of battle changed. Now, the same reports were coming in from all over.
“Destroyers!” he exclaimed to anyone who might be listening. He waved his arms in celebration. “They’re going down! Everywhere!”
* * *
—
Thirty-one years ago, Wicket had stood in this exact spot on Endor’s forest moon, rejoicing in the destruction of the Death Star. He’d been such a cub then, his fur still a youthful brown.
Debris had rained down in the sky for a decade afterward, but life on Endor would never go quietly, and the moon fought back with lush verdancy.
Then the First Order had come.
Wicket pointed toward the sky as a chunk of Star Destroyer fell like a fiery comet. “See that?” he said to his tiny son, Pommet, in Ewokese. “Our friends did that.”
“Princess Leia?” Pommet asked wide-eyed, for he’d heard all the stories. “See-Threepio?”
Wicket nodded. “See-Threepio,” he agreed. He had no doubt the golden, godlike one was responsible for yet another deliverance.
“Come,” he said, leading his son back toward the village. “There will be feasting and fireworks tonight.”
CHAPTER 19
Finn jogged down the Falcon’s access ramp into the jungle base of Ajan Kloss. Most of their ally ships had returned to their own systems and planets, but a few had decided to follow the surviving Resistance ships home. Their base was going to be fuller and busier than ever.
The troop lander touched down next, and BB-8 rolled down the ramp followed by a jubilant Rose. Finn grinned ear-to-ear to see that his friend was all right.
D-O scream-babbled with happiness when he spotted BB-8. He plunged toward the larger droid and whipped circles around him, barking with welcome. “H-h-happy!” he said.
Everyone was hugging, rejoicing at being alive. Finn passed Beaumont, who clapped him on the shoulder.
Finn caught sight of Poe stepping away from his X-wing and heading toward Zorii. The two stared at each other a long moment, then exchanged a friendly nod.
Then Poe arched a brow, a question in his eyes, but Zorii shook her head no.
Poe smiled and walked away, resigned but happy.
Everyone around them was reuniting: C-3PO greeted R2-D2 as he was craned out of Poe’s fighter, Beaumont and Klaud and Connix were sharing a laugh, D’Acy and Tyce hugged and then indulged in a long kiss. Even the orbaks were celebrating, tossing their manes and stomping on cue for the pilots in exchange for treats.
Chewie was lifting Rose off her feet when Finn saw Maz interrupt. “Chewie!” she called, motioning for the Wookiee to bend over. “This is for you.” He got down on one knee, and when they were of a height, she placed Han’s Medal of Bravery in Chewie’s hand and closed his huge fingers around it. “He’d want you to have it,” she added.
Poe found him next, and though the pilot had been celebrating along with everyone else, Finn sensed some hesitation.
“General Leia thought they’d destroyed the Emperor at the Battle of Endor,” Poe said. “But he came back. More powerful than ever.”
“You think he might come back again,” Finn said.
“Maybe,” Poe said, staring off in Zorii’s direction. Of course Poe would worry about that. He was acting general now, and like any good general he was anticipating what fight still lay ahead. “Or some other evil will rise. Evil always rises.”
“Naw,” said Finn. “Not for a long time, anyway.”
Poe gave him a questioning look.
“Don’t get me wrong, what General Leia did with Solo and Skywalker was incredible,” Finn explained. “Heroic and brave. But it was just one small group against incredible odds.”
Poe began to smile. “We’re not just one small group,” he said, understanding. “The Resistance is a million people, a thousand places.”
“General Leia united a whole galaxy. This time, it’s for real.” Poe’s grin became huge, and Finn wrapped his friend in a hug.
C-3PO and R2-D2 were coming toward them. “Did you hear that?” C-3PO asked, looking toward the sky.
* * *
—
Lando looked around at the Ajan Kloss base. Everyone knew who he was, but it was different, being known without knowing. Of all his oldest, best friends, only Chewie was left.
He was happy for everyone though. This new galaxy—the New New Republic?—was for the next generation to deal with. He’d get himself back to Pasaana soon. In the meantime, he was just glad to have helped.
“Where are you from, General?” came a voice at his shoulder, and he turned.
It was Jannah, the kid from Kef Bir.
“Gold system,” he said. “What about you, kid?”
“I don’t know,” she said, and her gaze turned distant. “I don’t know.”
It hit him like a proton torpedo to the gut. He wasn’t returning to Pasaana after all. Thousands, maybe millions of kids had been taken by the First Order—like his own little girl. And some of them, a very few, were special. The ones like Finn and Jannah, who had somehow managed to shake their First Order conditioning and make right choices.
Lando and the Lady Luck would help these special kids. Find their families, if that’s what they wanted. Help them discover their place in the new galaxy. Heck, maybe he’d find his daughter. Probably not; he knew the odds. But that would be a pretty good way to spend his twilight years, right? If the kids were amenable, anyway.
“Well,” he said to Jannah. “Let’s find out.”
The wondrous smile she gave him told him all he
needed to know.
* * *
—
Rey landed Luke’s X-wing and hopped out of the cockpit. BB-8 rolled toward her, warbling with excitement.
“Beebee-Ate! You made it!” she said, bending down, checking his antennae, his port covers. He’d come out of the battle with hardly a scratch.
She wandered through the base, taking strength and joy in everyone’s gaiety, but feeling vaguely alone. People clapped her on the back as she passed—word had already spread that the Emperor was dead. Rey wondered if they’d be so quick to congratulate her if they knew she was his granddaughter.
Or maybe they would. Leia and Luke had been the children of Darth Vader, after all. Maybe the good people of the Resistance didn’t care about nonsense like bloodlines and family history.
Finally, she spotted the people she was looking for. Finn and Poe, shouldering through the crowd, looking for her, too. Their gazes caught.
It was all Rey could do not to burst into tears. Her friends. Her family. They had all made it.
Suddenly, they were wrapped in a three-way hug. Rey felt the wetness of Finn’s tears against her own cheeks, and Poe squeezed so tight it was hard to breathe.
“Rey,” Finn whispered. “I’ve been meaning to tell you—”
“I know,” she said, thinking of the way his presence had become so bright in her mind.
“We all know,” Poe said.
A warmth flowed through them, a connection separate from the Force and in its own way just as powerful. Rey didn’t care to put a name to it. She only wanted to live in the moment and let it flow over her like water in the desert.
There was so much work to do. Dead to mourn. A galaxy to get up and running. But for now, the celebration continued all around them, and they kept right on hugging.
* * *
—
The Falcon touched down on an empty desert plain. The twin suns of Tatooine had yet to show their faces, but early-morning light washed the land in pink and white. Rey and BB-8 descended the ramp and squinted against the reflected brightness. The place was so stark, the ground so bleached, it was almost like the salt flats of Hiila Basin back on Jakku.
