"Are you ready, Ben?"

"Yes, papa."

"Are you sure? Because if you're too scared, I can turn the Falcon around and—"

"Dad!"

"Alright then. Chewie, let's do this!"

Ben Solo's heart began to race as his father and Uncle Chewie activated the hyperdrive and sent the Millenium Falcon flying forward at light speed. The familiar feeling that his stomach had been left behind at their previous location came over him, and he loved it. Ben was sure he would never get tired of the exhilaration brought on by how fast they were flying. And then, in almost no time at all, they were there.

"Remember, don't tell your mom about this," Han Solo reminded his son. "She'd kill me if she knew I was taking you on a job."

Ben nodded in understanding. "I promise. Can I come on board this time when you make the deal?"

"Sure, kiddo. Just stick close to me and Chewie, and whatever you do don't touch or say anything."

Han lowered the Falcon onto the dock of a large ship they were picking up the goods to be smuggled on. Ben craned his neck in the seat Han had added between the pilot seats for him to watch out the window as they docked. He liked seeing the interiors of the various ships his father did deals with. Han had been bringing Ben along for a few years now, ever since Leia went back to leading the Resistance against new threats that were rising. It was easier to take his son along rather than leave him with Leia. Ben had more fun observing his father's work than his mother's.

As they were disembarking from the ship, Chewie growled gently to Ben. The little boy grinned.

"Yes, please!" he replied happily, reaching up his arms to his uncle. The wookie bent down and picked Ben up, placing him atop his shoulders.

Han winced. "Be careful with him up there, Chewie," he reprimanded. "Some of these ceilings can be really low, and I don't want his head getting bonked."

Chewie responded that he would be careful. The trio made their way out of the hangar so they could meet with their clients. Ben rested his head on top of Chewie's soft fur and kicked his legs happily. This was his first time getting to witness his father at work, so he was very excited by it.

They entered the main room of the ship where Han was greeted warmly by a very fat, many-eyed blue alien.

"Good to see you again in one piece, Solo!" the alien boomed as he shook his hand. "I was afraid that after the Arithian job you'd finally been done in."

"Nah, they let me off with a warning," said Han. "Last time I'm doing business with Arnol though. Bastard sent me into a death trap."

The blue alien chuckled then turned his many eyes to Chewie and Ben. "Glad to see you again as well, Chewbacca. And who's this up here now? You're a new face, to be sure."

"That's my son, Ben," Han interjected. "I take him around with me while his mother works."

"I didn't know you became a father," the alien mused. "Good on you, I'm sure he'll turn into a fine young man. How old are you, boy?"

Ben looked to his father, who gave him an approving nod so he replied "Six, sir."

The alien nodded. "Not a bad age to be learning his father's trade. Speaking of which, let's put a hold on the small talk so I can get these Camillan fruits onto your ship. They're perishable, so there's no time like the present."

As Ben observed the goings on from atop Chewie's shoulders, he decided that when he was grown, he wanted to be just like his father. A smooth-talking, cunning smuggler who was never afraid of anything. That's the kind of man he wanted to be. And, with any luck, that's how he would turn out.

Twenty-three years later, Ben was running from a band of angry grey and white aliens. His long legs carried him through the ship, allowing him to cut around corners without the slightest falter. There was sweat on his forehead but a grin on his face. He was loving this. Especially with the caliber of gems that were sitting comfortably in his satchel.

He had turned out just like his father, cunning and smooth, but also a criminal. Despite his mother's protests, he gallivanted through the galaxy, taking thieving and smuggling jobs wherever his could. He had made a name for himself, and not necessarily a good one. Ben didn't care though. It was everything he had wanted to be since childhood. His mother and Uncle Luke had hoped he would choose the Jedi path since he was Force-sensitive, but that life was just too simple for Ben. He had bigger dreams than the Jedi life could offer.

As he drew closer to his ship, he stopped and turned around to face his pursuers. His grin widened. This was really going to throw them off. Concentrating hard, he used his Force energy to pull the hangar doors closed right as the hoard prepared to go through them. There were several thumps and lots of loud shrieks and curses from the other side as his assailants ran head first into the doors. Ben laughed then turned and dashed up the ramp onto his ship.

His friend Hux glared at him from the co-pilot's seat as he entered the cock pit. "You told me fifteen minutes and we'd be off, Solo," he grumbled as he began flipping switches in preparation for their departure. "I could have got a decent nap in with how long it took you to get those gems."

Ben waved him off. "Better take that pole out of your ass, Hux, or I'm going to stick you on top of the ship and use you as a docking beacon."

"Oh haha, another red hair joke. You're so original." Hux had tousled red hair that Ben took every opportunity to poke fun at.

"Alright, let's get a move on," said Ben. "I think they've got the door figured out."

Hux rolled his eyes. "Sure you don't want to go invite them out for tea?"

"Somehow I don't think they would accept that invitation," his friend replied as he watched the hangar doors burst open and the grey and white aliens begin shooting at their ship. "Alright, let's get out of here before they fry us."

Ben's hands worked as though they were on autopilot. He had spent two decades learning to fly ships, and he had become an even better pilot than both his father and Luke. Which was a good skill to have when you are constantly having to bolt from a hangar before it closes on you while dodging gunfire.

But the aliens Ben and Hux were up against were called the Chambar, and they were not the brightest creatures in the galaxy. Therefore, the two young men had no difficulty getting away from them. In just minutes, they were alright into light speed heading far away from the ship they had just robbed.

"Let's see what you got then," said Hux once they had put enough distance between themselves and their victims.

Ben tossed the satchel on his friend's lap so he could look at the multi-colored gem stones that had been taken from the Chambar ship. Hux turned each gem between his fingers, in awe at the beauty of them.

"Almost a shame we have to sell them," he sighed wistfully. "They're very pretty gems."

"The rarest in all the galaxy," Ben reminded him. "Here, why don't you keep one to take home to Phasma? I'm sure she'd be thrilled by it. I'm keeping one too probably."

Hux cleared his throat. Talking about his wife always got him a little flustered. Normally he was cool and cynical, but when it came to Phasma he was head over heels. "Yes, well I might do just that."

Ben grinned. "You'd get lucky for days, giving her one of those."

His comment earned him a punch in the arm from Hux, whose ears were as red as his hair as he began griping about how Ben should mind his own business. It was all in good fun, however. The young men had been friends since their teenage years and often carried out jobs as a team. Ben had been the one to introduce Phasma and Hux, as she was the daughter of one of his father's former cohorts. The three of them still did business every now and then, but Phasma was currently staying with her ill mother on Patine. They were headed there now so that Ben could drop Hux off before taking on a smuggling job for a client they had done business with many times before.

Ben was a little jealous when his friend disembarked from the ship and embraced his wife. So far in life, he'd been unable to find a girl who complimented him in every way like Phasma did for Hux. His father had always told him not to sweat it, as sometimes it took a while for the right one to show up. Still, Ben couldn't help but feel a little impatient that whoever she was, she seemed to be taking her sweet time finding him.

Back at the newly constructed Jedi temple on Endor, a young padawan named Rey sat in the courtyard with a group of children teaching them how to meditate. They were sitting comfortably on the grass, and Rey was explaining to them how they needed to clear their minds and let the power of the Force flow through them. Some of the children giggled and cracked their eyes open during the meditation, but Rey was patient with them.

"Meditation is key to becoming the best Jedi you can," she explained. "It helps clear your mind and even sometimes have visions of future events."

"What if the future is scary though?" a little girl on her right asked.

Rey gave her a gentle smile. "Then the vision can help you be prepared for it so you won't be scared when it happens."

The little girl looked thoughtful at that. "Wow, you are very smart, Rey."

"Are you gonna be a Jedi Master soon?" one of the boys inquired.

Rey shook her head. "No, I need quite a bit more training to become a Jedi Master. But someday, I hope to be one."

"Who wants snacks?" said a familiar voice, and Rey turned to see Leia standing at the entrance to the courtyard, holding a tray of cakes.

The younglings cheered and scrambled to their feet, going immediately to Leia for the treats. Since they had been raised to be respectful, each child took only one cake and thanked Leia before returning to the grass to eat them there.

"Sorry to interrupt your meditation time," Leia apologized as Rey made her way over after the younglings were all seated.

"Not at all," said Rey, giving her a one-armed hug. "We've been at it for about half an hour now and I could tell their attention was slipping. It's a much needed break for them."

The two women began to walk around the courtyard together, chatting about recent events. Rey had always liked Leia very much and saw her almost like the mother she never knew. Luke had taken her in as a young child when her mother left her at the Jedi temple to be trained. He had raised her like his own, teaching her the ways of the Force. Rey was very strong with the Force and Luke had seen in her an enormous potential. That was why, since he was currently gone, he had left her in charge of the temple. Even though there were padawans older than herself, Luke knew Rey was the strongest and most reliable out of all of them.

"What brings you to Endor?" Rey asked Leia as they made their way out of the courtyard and through the temple building. "I thought the Resistance was having a rough time of it right now."

"We are," Leia answered gravely. "But Luke sent me a transmission that he would be back today, so I wanted to see him and ask how everything is going in the Euphorium Quadrant."

Rey was excited at this news. "He's due back today? Really?"

Leia laughed. "You seem so eager about that. I thought you would enjoy having the run of the temple for a few days."

The young padawan's cheeks reddened. "I am a little, but it's—it's a lot of work. Plus, I think Luke does a better job of it than me."

"You do a wonderful job," said Leia, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Luke has always told me all about how strong and capable you are. I think someday you'll be teaching the new Jedi along with him."

"I would like that," Rey responded, unable to stop herself from grinning with pride.

"I wish Ben had chosen to train with Luke too," Leia went on, her tone turning wistful. "He would have made a very powerful Jedi because of how strong he is with the Force."

Rey was curious to hear more about Ben. She had only met him once when she was younger. He was a tall, gangly teenager from what she remembered, but she had found him a bit handsome as well as charismatic. She had not seen him since though, and Leia did not talk about him too much due to his criminal behavior.

"Oh, Luke's arrived," Leia said suddenly before Rey could ask about how Ben was doing. Her attention turned to the window Leia was looking out, and she could see the ship docking in front of the temple.

The women made their way quickly down the stairs and back outside to greet Luke. A few other Jedi were already gathered around, waiting for their teacher to disembark from the ship. Rey was relieved that he had returned today. She was beginning to feel a bit in over her head with all the students coming to her for help and guidance. As she confided in Leia, she thought Luke was more helpful to them than herself.

Leia and Rey both froze as they neared the ship. The latter felt like a bucket of ice cold water had been thrown into her stomach. She turned to Leia, and saw that she too had a troubled look on her face.

"I felt it too," said Leia. "Something's wrong."

Sure enough, as the ramp of the ship lowered, two of the Jedi who had accompanied Luke on his journey ran down, yelling for help.

"Get the healer out here, now!" one of them called.

"Luke's been injured! He needs immediate medical care."

Rey felt her heart drop into her stomach at their words. Something terrible had happened to Luke, and from the way the two men sounded it was something that could have put his life on the line.