As the two Jedi finished packing their bags, the soft shuffle of metal footsteps drew their attention. C-3PO was making his way toward them, with R2-D2 rolling at his side. Finn smiled as the two droids approached. They had been through so much together over the years, and though C-3PO's incessant worrying could be overwhelming, his presence was always comforting in times of uncertainty.
"Come on, Threepio, let's go," Finn said, swinging his pack over his shoulder.
C-3PO hesitated, turning toward R2-D2. "Goodbye, R2. Do try not to get into trouble while I'm away."
R2-D2 let out a low, sad-sounding beep in response, his dome swiveling toward C-3PO as though bidding his old friend farewell.
C-3PO turned with a sigh and walked toward Finn's ship, a sleek white T-6 shuttle. "Oh, I do hope we are not heading into danger. You know how I dislike danger, Master Finn."
Link snorted softly and smiled.
As they approached the shuttle, they saw Rey waiting for them at the base of the boarding ramp. Rey hugged Finn, then Link. "May the Force be with you both."
"We won't let you down, Master."
"I know you won't."
As they turned to board the ship, a voice stopped them in their tracks. "Finn, Link," Ben called out as he approached. "Good luck."
Finn nodded in acknowledgment, meeting Ben's eyes briefly. It was a simple gesture, but it carried with it the weight of trust and understanding that had grown between them over the years.
They continued up the ramp. Rey and Ben watched as the shuttle's engines roared to life, the familiar hum filling the air as it lifted off the ground, its white hull gleaming in the light.
As the wind from the shuttle's takeoff whipped around them, Ben turned to Rey. "You're worried about them."
She took a deep breath, centering herself. "They'll be fine," she replied. She turned to face him fully. "We should get moving."
R2-D2 followed as they headed to the Falcon.
—
Finn and Link stood across from each other, in the training area of the shuttle, bokken swords in hand. The wooden practice blades were sturdy and well-worn. Finn twirled his expertly in one hand, his stance relaxed. Link gripped her own sword tightly, she closed her eyes, attempting to center herself in the moment.
They had been at it for nearly an hour already, sweat was glistening on Link's forehead. She was determined to show Finn that she was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Again," he said calmly, stepping forward to engage.
She didn't hesitate, bringing her bokken down in a smooth arc, aiming for Finn's shoulder. He easily parried the blow, sidestepping her attack with the precision of a seasoned Jedi Knight. His movements were fluid, almost effortless.
She shifted her weight, trying to adjust her footing for another strike, but Finn was quicker. Before she could react, his bokken tapped lightly against her arm, signaling that she had left herself open.
"Too slow," he said, "you need to be quicker on your recovery. Anticipate the counter."
Link nodded, resetting her stance and squaring her shoulders. She took a deep breath, focusing her thoughts, trying to push away the distractions swirling in her mind. As they began sparring again, the sound of footsteps approaching made her glance briefly to the side.
C-3PO stood at the edge of the room. "Master Finn, I've checked the communications system, everything looks normal."
Link, distracted by the droid, hesitated for a split second, her eyes flickering toward C-3PO.
Finn seized the opportunity, and with a swift movement, his bokken struck lightly against her leg, causing her to stumble.
"Pay attention, Link," he said, lowering his bokken and stepping back to give her space to recover. "Focus on what's in front of you. Your mind can't be split."
She winced, rubbing her leg where he had struck her. "Sorry, Master."
Finn set down his sword, indicating that it was time for a break.
Link, still catching her breath, glanced over at the droid. "Threepio, what do you know about The Path of the Open Hand?"
"Ah, well, they are an extremist faction with deeply rooted beliefs. They hold the conviction that no one should wield the Force, as they see it as a form of control over the natural order."
"They think that wielding the Force is unnatural?" Link asked.
"Precisely," C-3PO confirmed, "Their methods are quite extreme, and their leader, Mar Corrik, has been reported to take violent action against those who oppose their ideals."
"But how do they justify attacking people like Senator Connix? She doesn't even use the Force."
Finn chimed in, "They view anyone allied with Jedi as an enemy. Senator Connix has been working closely with Rey."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sharp beeping of the comm system. Finn walked over to the console and flipped the switch to activate it. A familiar voice filled the room.
"Hey, Finn!" Poe Dameron's voice crackled through the speaker.
Link perked up. "Poe!" she said, her eyes lighting up as she approached the console.
"Hey, Link," Poe replied warmly. "How's my favorite Padawan doing?"
"Great! We're on a mission. We are going to protect Senator Connix."
Finn smiled slightly, watching her enthusiasm. He had always liked Poe's way of making people feel at ease, no matter the situation.
"Yeah," Finn added, "we're heading to Chandrila. There was an assassination attempt on Kaydel, and we think The Path of the Open Hand is behind it."
Poe's tone became serious. "Those guys?"
"Rey's going to Dalna to track down Mar Corrik."
"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. It's been a while since I've been in the thick of things."
"Thanks, Poe. I know we'll need all the help we can get."
"Link, take care of Finn for me."
"I will," she responded.
Finn smiled. "I love you, Poe."
"I love you too, Finn."