To Be So Lonely // Ben Solo

25

Unsurprisingly, whatever scans and tests the First Order crew completed on the Wayfinder, they found no information or leads on it. It was not technology familiar to them, and it was suggested to very clearly belong to users of the Force.

"Right, you plug it into the navigational system," muttered Ben, grabbing it from the center table. He held the prism to the light, pointing at where a red dot curved back and forth between a dark green line. "That's a path we're meant to follow."

"And we think Palpatine is at the end of it?" wondered Cyra softly.

"I would assume," he said.

Cyra raised her eyebrow. "If you knew that from the start, why did you let them run tests on it?"

"Wanted to give you some peace of mind," he said, shrugging.

Cyra huffed. She grabbed the Wayfinder from his hand and stuffed it into her bag, throwing it over her shoulders. "Then we should tell the Council we're heading to Palpatine."

Ben nodded. Cyra waved goodbye to the team of techs, then followed behind him as he exited the room. They fell into step beside each other.

"You don't have to acknowledge them, you know," he told her quietly.

She glanced up at him. "Sometimes you forget we aren't all moody brats," she quipped, winking at him when he glared at her. "Doesn't hurt to be kind to people, Mr. Ren."

"Just Kylo," he corrected briskly.

"You're lucky I don't call you Ben outside of our room, don't push it," she said.

Ben sighed. He sent her a warning glance, telling her to behave, before he stepped through the doors to the Board. As per usual, he neglected to join them as they sat at the table. He stood at the head, Cyra standing behind him, and told the Council of how their mission went yesterday, the Wayfinder they found.

"Cyra and I believe it's a pathway to Palpatine, or at the very least, a clue to where he could be. Given that it was rather simple for us to find, I have to assume Palpatine planted it for us to find," Ben finished.

"Supreme Leader, if that is true, should you be walking into his trap?" wondered Hux. As always, he was the first to respond to whatever Ben spoke.

"That's why Cyra is joining me," he said.

Cyra's eyes glanced to the back of Ben's head, a flutter in her heart. He hadn't admitted that to her, even, but he was openly telling the Board she was trusted to keep him safe. She tried to settle her pride before Ben felt it, but given the slight tap in her forehead, he wanted to acknowledge to her that he did feel it.

"I'll send my personal code before we land at the destination. If you do not hear from me within 48 hours of that, send troops to our location," decided Ben.

The Board said nothing else. He nodded, dispersing the meeting, and as he started towards the door, Cyra followed behind him.

They walked onto the ship that was readied for them, Ben taking pilot and Cyra taking copilot as usual. She pulled the Wayfinder from her bag and popped open the navigational system, her and Ben watching expectantly at the black screen until it started to show the course laid out on the dash.

"That's it," she mumbled, a sinking feeling starting to appear in her lower stomach.

"Hey," said Ben, reaching to grab her hand. He made sure she was looking directly at him. "I meant what I said to the Board. I do trust you with my life. I trust you to protect yourself and me. You should have no worry about this. It's going to be alright."