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 hugging Zorii.
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, then Finn saw Poe heading toward him. Although the pilot had been celebrating along with everyone else, Finn sensed some hesitation.
"General Organa thought they'd destroyed the Sith at the Battle of Endor," Poe said. "But they came back. More powerful than ever."
"You think they might come back again," Finn said.
"Maybe," Poe said. 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 Organa 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 Organa 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.
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.
Rey 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. 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. 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 a grassy field with a soft hiss, its landing gear sinking gently into the dew-drenched ground. The twin suns of Endor had yet to crest the horizon, but the early-morning light washed the land in hues of pink and white, the stars still visible like scattered diamonds overhead. Rey stood at the top of the ramp, a silent sentry as the ramp lowered beneath her feet. Beside her, Chewbacca rumbled a low, thoughtful growl, the Wookiee's gaze fixed on the horizon, scanning for any signs of movement.
The air was still, cool, and filled with the scent of damp foliage and rich soil. Rey breathed it in, the silence before the dawn a familiar comfort. But her attention shifted when a shadow appeared at the edge of the clearing. A figure, tall and lean, walked toward them, his steps sure but hesitant. As he drew closer, his features sharpened in the soft light.
Ben.
He stopped just short of the Falcon's ramp, his dark eyes avoiding Chewbacca's. The weight of his past actions hung between them, unspoken yet undeniable. He looked down, as though the green of the grass held some secret answer he hadn't found.
Chewie growled, a deep sound reverberating from his chest, but there was no anger in it, only something closer to a low, guarded hope. The Wookiee stepped forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over Ben.
Ben tensed, a flicker of guilt passing over his face. He didn't know what to expect. Forgiveness? Fury? He had done so many terrible things—hurt those he loved, betrayed the people who had once been his family. And now, here he was, standing before Chewbacca, the one who had fought alongside his father for decades, the one who had known him since birth.
But instead of harsh words or retribution, Chewie simply grabbed him—pulled him in with his immense arms and held him tight. The Wookiee's growl softened into a low, almost affectionate rumble. Ben stood frozen for a moment, shock flashing in his eyes, but then something broke in him. Slowly, hesitantly, his hands lifted to return the embrace. His shoulders slumped, the weight of everything he had done—the regret, the pain—slipping away, if only for that moment.
Rey watched from a few paces away, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She had never seen Chewbacca hug someone like that. It wasn't just about Ben—it was about Han and Leia. They would have done this, she knew. If they could have reunited with their son, they would have embraced him, loved him, despite everything.
Light caught her gaze, a soft, shimmering blue at the edge of her vision. She turned her head, and there, on a nearby hill, stood the figures of Leia and Luke, their forms glowing softly in the early morning haze. They smiled at her, and Rey felt a pang of longing, a deep ache for those she had lost. Leia had been her guiding hand, and Luke, the teacher who had finally believed in her. She missed them both more than words could express.
But seeing them now, here in the quiet light of Endor, she didn't feel sad. There was peace in their presence, and that peace filled her heart, settling over her like a soft blanket. She nodded to them, a silent promise to carry on their legacy, and turned back to Chewie and Ben.
Chewbacca released Ben at last, his massive paw clapping Ben on the shoulder, the Wookiee's expression one of quiet approval. Ben looked up at him, a flicker of something unfamiliar in his eyes. Gratitude, perhaps, or the beginning of hope.
Together, they turned back to the Falcon. The day was beginning to brighten, and though the twin suns still hadn't risen, the promise of a new beginning hung in the air.
As they reached the base of the ramp, Ben's gaze flicked between them. "Where are we going?" he asked, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty. He had come this far, but the path ahead was still uncharted for him.
Chewbacca roared, a sound that might have been laughter or agreement—it was hard to tell. Both of them looked at Rey, waiting for her answer.
"Ahch-To."