Ben knew it was unlikely the five remaining Knights would come at once. The Mandalorian seemed to understand that as well. But they talked about it as if it were a given. Wise to plan for the worst-case and hope for the best. If they came one at a time, he could manage them by himself without risking any of the others.

Because this, too, was his fault. His penance, his punishment, his burden. He'd worked with these men for years to turn them into lethal killing machines. The dust of his past life might eventually settle. He could conceptualize a life where the remnants of Kylo Ren weren't popping up at every turn. But thinking it possible and believing it would actually happen were two very different exercises.

Ben walked the perimeter the Mandalorian had established with the kid. They were to engage the Knights inside of it if at all possible. It provided multiple tactical advantages. Fighting with a true soldier highlighted Ben's egregious reliance on power over planning. Had he been in charge of this mission, he would have waved a hand in the general direction of the landscape and told them to go kill their enemies. But then, he'd never had to worry about preserving the lives of his fighters. If they died, they died.

"Papa says it's not good to think about what might go wrong," said Yoda. "He said it will make you slow and get you killed."

Ben eyed him. He wasn't sure if the kid was a budding telepath, or if he was an astute empath. The other option, which was more likely, was that Ben was just easy to read, and the kid paid attention. That helmet had kept his face hidden and allowed him to develop bad habits.

"Your Papa is right."

"I know. He's right all the time."

Had Ben ever had that kind of blind trust in Han? He didn't think so.

"Master Ben?"

"Hm?"

"What happens after this?"

"We go back to Ahch-To."

"But then what? Will you stay?"

A shiver ran down Ben's spine. This boy hit far too close to his churning thoughts, none of which were good. He would stay with Rey. But he sensed his loss of identity keenly. Who would he be? Now that he was no longer Kylo Ren? And could he find that new purpose on Ahch-To? Rey had stepped into her commitment to the Jedi and shaped herself to fit that role. It was made for her. But for him? He grimaced. He was no teacher.

"I'll always stay with Rey," he said after a long pause. "She is my other half. Literally, it seems."

"I like Master Rey. She's the best. I hope you stay."

Well, then. "I will find something to do with myself."

"I like you, too. You're different than Master Rey. But that's good. There are bad people in the galaxy. Master Rey knows there are bad people, but she doesn't expect them. You do."

"I've had more experience than her."

"Did you know there are nine species of frogs in the lake?"

Ben opened his mouth and then closed it again, thrown off by the conversation turn. "I didn't. Which ones taste best?"

"The small green ones with the black spots."

"And the worst?"

"A yellow and purple one. I spit it out. It burned my tongue. It was a tree frog - I like water frogs best."

"Have you ever flown the Razor Crest?"

Yoda kicked a stone into the treeline. "No. Papa says I'm too little."

"I could teach you that. If Papa lets us."

"Really?!"

Ben nodded. The kid was staring up at him with his huge, liquid-black eyes. Staring up at him like he was worth something. Like he wasn't a monster.

"Sure. You'll have to learn sometime. We'll requisition some ships from this new government of Poe's. I'm sure they'd be glad to provide them."

"What about the Falcon? Is it yours now?"

"Well...I think it's Rey's. She'd probably let us borrow it."

"Han Solo flew the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs! That ship is the fastest."

"Maybe he did. Han Solo tended to exaggerate on occasion. I guess we could test it."

Yoda pulled out his darksaber and extended the blade. "When those bad guys come, I'm going to..." He then proceeded to swipe his darksaber this way and that in mock battle, making noises with his mouth that resembled those of the blade cutting through air.

"Careful with that. And I'm pretty sure your dad said you were to stay invisible and not get close enough to stab anyone."

He was advising someone to be careful and listen to their father. He really had come full circle.

"Aw! I can do it!"

"I know you can. But so can we. Sometimes you have to let the old people have a little fun, too."

Ben's head snapped up as a ship entered the atmosphere. He didn't recognize it. The Knights lived by a loose mantra of "if the dark side provided, go ahead and take it." They would have no qualms re-appropriating a ship for their own use.

"Last one back to Rey is a rotten egg!" called Ben, as he turned and started jogging back to the place they had hidden the Razor Crest.

Little Yoda hurried by, thankfully having retracted his blade before he took off running. Ben kept up his jog, allowing the kid to beat him.

"How many?" said Rey.

She was standing outside of the Razor Crest. Her hair was still damp from a shower, and her clothing stuck to her still-wet skin.

Ben raised his eyebrows and waited.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Three?"

"I count three as well."

"Split up," barked the Mandalorian, sliding right into commander mode. "Separate and dispatch. No games." He looked at Ben. "No playing with your food. Get it done."

"Yes, Sir," they all said.

Three knights disembarked. Ben watched through a pair of electrobinoculars the Mandalorian had lent him. He sucked in a sharp breath when he saw what came behind them. An army of K-2SO's stomped out of the ship, in perfect lockstep. He abandoned his post, returning to the others, who seemed to have noticed the Knights' back-up.

"How many did you count?" asked the Mandalorian.

"Two dozen?" said Rey.

"Maybe a few more than that," said Ben. "They're good at infiltration."

"I guess this means these guys are no longer yours?" said Rey.

Ben nodded. "News of Coruscant must have gotten out."

"Plan B," said the Mandalorian, as calm as ever.