That night, in a large room that once served as barracks, Kelic is curled up fast asleep in a hammock.

The windows are open and a slight breeze blows the vines around the opening. They can see stars. There are about forty hammocks in the room. Chewbacca chooses one and indicates for Ben to be near him. Ben walks slowly across the room and is distracted by the stars. Rey comes in behind them excitedly, holding a blanket under one arm.

"This is fun!"

Chewbacca is excited too. reminiscing to Ben.

Ben smiles, "Yeah I remember. We used to visit Kashyyyk sometimes on diplomatic missions."

His large hairy friend trills scoldingly.

"And fun." Ben adds.

A fist-sized bug drops from the ceiling and Ben jumps back in disgust. Chewbacca eats it and laughs at Ben as he climbs into his hammock. Ben chooses a hammock and Rey climbs in next to him before he can object, and pulls the blanket up. She closes her eyes settling against him. He still scans the space for bugs.

"I hate bugs. My neighbor had a pet Gufu cat who used to love to catch them."

"I learned to appreciate them. The desert Flinka tarantulas eat the Cloony beetles. The Clooney beetles gather near water, even a drip, but the lizard rats were the ones who ate the Flinkas. Those were what you learned to catch. You could eat a Flinka, but lizard rats taste amazing when all you've been eating is portions."

Ben's chest shakes as he stifles a laugh, "That is a terrible story."

"Then why are you laughing?"

"I don't know!" Ben kisses her forehead.

Chewbacca moantalks in irritation.

"Yes Chewie, we know you're still here," Rey rolls her eyes. "What was it like growing up on Chandrila?"

"Amazing. Everything is so balanced and harmonious there. I was like a prince. Everyone knew who I was everywhere we went. And then, when I wanted to just be a boy and his parents, it wasn't so great. And I'd get so frustrated, and feel so alone. And then I'd build things. And think about how everything could be better."

Ben and Rey look up at the stars.

"Do you think we'll ever be able to have an important conversation without using a lightsaber?" She asks.

"Do you want to?"

"At least you remember your parents."

"Who were hardly around. I was raised by Luke and the droids. I grew resentful of all the fake people around me. They were nothing but masks and pretending. The few who were truly good were too afraid to do anything. Vera dying was it. Luke thought all my time alone wasn't a good idea. Vera was the only one who made me feel like they cared. I wanted to see through everyone and eliminate all the façades."

"So you ran away to a liar who only wanted you for your power?"

"I met Snoke at some diplomat ball. He said all the right things. Made me feel like I didn't have to hide. And when I left to join him, Luke didn't come for me. He ran away. Abandoned me. When he finally did come, it was too late. I hid from my father until he finally gave up. And my mother was too busy saving the Galaxy to save her own son."

"She loved you."

"The best she could. You came to me. You said you believed in me, even though you wanted nothing from me. You expected nothing."

"What do most people expect?"

"Everything. They don't see what they think they should and they leave. I used to think that to care was a weakness. But you, you cared so much and you were stronger than me."

"What is this connection between us?"

"I don't know. But it's strong."

Ben leans to kiss Rey but Chewbacca interrupts, loudly protesting.

"You're fine." Ben growls back.

That night, Ben has a dream and in his sleep he slashes down everyone he cares about. Ben wakes up slicing up the hammocks around them, almost killing Rey and Chewbacca. He falls on his knees, realizing what he did. Chewie stands shouting at Ben and angrily holding his blanket. Ben remains on his knees and drops his saber, putting his hands up, ready to take anything his large angry friend might see fit to inflict upon him.

Rey wraps her arms around Ben and he buries his head against her without thinking. She holds him there and her eyes let Chewie know she doesn't blame Ben. Chewbacca is annoyed and chooses the farthest hammock from them and climbs into it with his blanket. After a few seconds of silence Chewbacca moantalks again.

"No he won't," Rey defends Ben flatly.

Rey once again climbs into a hammock with him. His emotions churn and Rey touches his hand for comfort. She doesn't blame him. She didn't grow up knowing many people on Jakku. Most of the people she knew there were bitter, and bad. She'd met many more people across the Galaxy who were full of hope and goodness. Ben had never pretended to be something he wasn't. Ben had never demanded anything of her. That's why she loved him.

The torment of his past had been haunting Ben for months. His lightsaber crystal, once fueled by his rage, had stopped working for him. He'd had to replace it. As long as he'd been killing it had been strong. He would have killed Luke. No doubt. But Luke had kept that from him. On purpose. Where he had once been conflicted every day, he was resolved. Where he had once been weak, he was stronger than he'd ever been. Where he had once justified his actions, he felt guilt. He knew he was the only one who could complete his goal, but it had brought him pain. He longed to keep Rey at a distance for this very reason. Keep his love for her in check.

Poe meets with a group of X-Wing pilots underground. They break and two Resistance officers speak with him. They are interrupted by BB8 rolling in at full speed, beeping non-stop. Poe braces himself with a metallic crutch, straining to understand.

"Whoa, whoa buddy slow down. No one can understand you when you beep that fast. What about ships?"

Finn catches up and doubles over to catch his breathe. His healing head wound is visible above an eyepatch. Finn's breathless shout clarifies, his hand pointing upward.

"Hundreds of them!!!"

By now the news has spread across their underground fortress and Poe meets Rose's concerned face across the room. The ground above them begins to shake and they all fall silent and turn their heads up to the surface above them.

The sky is so full of First Order fighters it looks like it is gray. Transports are landing every few feet. Heretia is perched with BB8 above on a cliff.

"Leia said she'd never bring the fight home. I guess Ben had other ideas." BB8 beeps.

"We aren't going anywhere now. Really wishing I'd gone with Chewie." BB8 looks up at her sharply.

"I'm kidding," She laughs, "Kind of."

Kellin is uncharacteristically quiet as Chewbacca and Rey pilot his ship. Kellin sits across from Ben, biting his nails and looking a bit like a leprechaun in all green. Ben sits leaning over with his hands placed together, Kylo mask on. The mocking tone in Ben's voice is very apparent.

"Is today green day?"

"Yes. And I'm missing a very important race thanks to you."

Ben chuckles in the mask.

"Ok, that's the single scariest thing I've ever heard."

"That's the idea isn't it?"

Kellin glances at Ben's shoulder insignia.

"Yeah, you're not exactly the guy to criticize other's snazzy outfits."

Kellin glares at Ben and jumps up to look over Rey's shoulder.

"This is the place. Just up there." Kellin directs.

It is a town on the beach. Lots of small ships are coming and going. Colorful pieces of fabric hang from every corner and on every vendor's cart. It is a shabby place, but people seem to be having a good time. Music is heard as they approach. This place is a stark contrast to the proper, wealthier fun on the opposite side of the planet.

They land on the outskirts above the small town high on a cliff, near a barn-like structure and dome-shaped lighthouse.

Ben moves forward and stands between the two buildings. Kellin flanks him nervously. Ben looks left to the lighthouse and gestures for Chewbacca and Rey to go around.

Kellin enters the lighthouse first. It is breathtaking inside, with a spacious entry and a funky staircase spiraling upwards in the center. Spots of colored light shine through the shapes of uniquely tinted glass. Kellin almost forgets why he is there until he hears a metal door close. Rij and Gib scramble up the staircase as soon as they lay eyes on Ben. Rij draws his saber. Gib hides behind the pillar with a blaster. Rij speaks first.

"What do you want Ren?"

"I just came to talk."

"Yeah, is that why you brought your saber? I know what you did to the others, word gets around."

Rij waves his saber and stands firm. Ben removes his mask and tosses it to the side with a thud. He draws his saber that appears brownish purplish and it crackles loudly. Rij draws back in horror at the sight of it.

"What the Kriff is that?!" he yells.

Gib is in awe, peeking from behind Rij.

"What did you do?" Gib wants an explanation.

Rey and Chewie appear on the opposite side of the room in the doorway. This is the first time Rey has seen Ben's new blade. The angles of the streaks of light in it are still bright, but not so jagged and flaring as before.

"I want you to join me." Ben invites.

Rij is still mesmerized by the blade, "I don't know if I could follow that anywhere."

"The others were killed because they were on the wrong side."

"You know I'd rather die a horrible painful death than having anything more to do with Snoke's work."

"I killed Snoke."

Gib steps out of the shadows, "Like, because he tried to kill you and you were stronger, or like, you didn't want to be his little puppet anymore?"

Ben withdraws his sword and so does Rij. Kellin raises his eyebrows. "Should I even ask how you guys know each other?"

As they travel back to Kellin's hanger on his ship everyone listens intently to Gib.

"We were there the night Luke tried to kill Ben. Luke was afraid of his power. His biggest fear was creating another Vader. Ben didn't mean to hurt anyone. But he was always too strong for his own good. Snoke had already been telling him we could escape."

"Of course," Rij clarifies, "we didn't know it was Snoke."

"Ben thought it was Vader. Said we could trust him. We were the original Knights of Ren. Snoke trained us, used our power. We were young. We had no family. We liked being important."

Rij is pained by these memories, "We did all of Snoke's dirtiest work. I couldn't handle it. I ran away and took Gib with me."

Gib looks to Ben, "We waited. Nothing happened. I thought for sure you would come to kill us for deserting."

Ben can't look him in the eye then, "I didn't blame you. If I had been able to get away I would have. I was fueled by vengeance, felt betrayed. Abandoned."

Gib slams his fist to Ben's. Rij does the same.

"Beyond death." Gib says proudly.

"Beyond death." Rij echoes.

Chewbacca, Ben, Rey, Gib and Rij start loading up to leave the planet. Two more ships arrive and they greet and give instructions, continuing to load. Kellin feigns helping and follows Ben around.

"So I don't get it...Why did you tell General Hux that she killed Snoke?

"I don't know. I panicked."

"Oh. Isn't that like the opposite of what the Force is?" He turns to look at Rey. "I had a simple life here, Reela. I don't know what you want me to do with all this information."

She stops to engage him.

"Nothing. Please, just keep it to yourself."

"But, like, Kylo Ren is maybe not so bad? That's crazy!"

"We have to kill him." Rij tells Ben.

"No, no, no, no," Kellin argues, "I got you. I got you, I swear no one finds out. Biggest secret in the Galaxy but I got it, I got it."

The knights all exchange glances.

Ben speaks to Kellin in his head, "If you tell anyone about this, we will kill you."

"No, no, I'm-" Kellin clicks his tongue and motions lips closed. He walks over to Rey, afraid to turn his back on the men.

"Sis! Good to see you. Best of luck with everything."

He whispers in her ear, "So he threatened my life, but somehow I still feel like he's a good guy, not sure what to do with that."

"You'll be fine. Kellin, you're a good man, just keep that in your head. Thank you for all your help."

Ben Forces him to sleep again; they tie him up and bring him on his ship. The other ships, including Snoke's, jump to hyperspace ahead of them.

"That didn't go as planned."

"Luke's infinite wisdom. Why couldn't we just leave him?"

Rij and Gib speak together matter-of-factly, "He'll talk."

"I feel like we should go back and get that boy from the stables." Rey looks toward the town.

"No." Ben's word is firm.