The atmosphere in the Falon was tense. For a long while, no one knew what to say.
The First Order had stopped their attack after capturing the Resistance cruiser, and they had retreated a ways away to lick their wounds and come up with a plan to rescue the people who had been on board their ship, Leia included.
There was also a bit of apprehension towards Ben, who leaned against a wall next to Rey. Not all of them had boarded the Falcon to strategize. Some had remained in fighters to stand guard, but those who had did their best not to stare at the former sith.
"So they have Leia." Poe finally spoke up from across the room. "And Nell. And the Admiral. And everyone else." He ran a hand down his face and sighed. "And we don't have the firepower to storm them. But we can't leave without them. So what now?"
"We have to board the ships." Rey stated like it was the most obvious course of action.
Poe furrowed his brows. "That does seem like our only option. But we need a plan, otherwise it's suicide."
"Why aren't they attacking us?" The girl who spoke was a fighter pilot. Rey had seen her around the base on Hoth, but had never spoken to her.
Rey crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "Hux is playing with us. He thinks he's won. That he's got us backed into a corner and all we can do is either surrender or die. So now he's having his fun."
"She's right." Ben sighed from beside her. "He's always been power hungry. Someone who wants to control people. A hunter that likes to play with his food. No doubt he's even calling himself Supreme Leader now."
As if on cue, Chewie spoke up to say they were receiving an incoming transmission from the First Order ships.
"Speak of the devil." Rey muttered under her breath before nodding to the Wookie. "Put him through."
Rey had never met General Hux, but Poe had described him for her from what Leia had told him. Tall, thin and pale. He had the look of a psychopath who had been violently bullied as a child. While the holographic figure of him that appeared in the centre of the common room didn't really tell her much about his skin tone, Poe had been right about his physique.
Then there was his expression. Though he was decently attractive, the violent glint in his eyes and the smug smile ruined his face. Rey already knew she didn't like this man. There was no light in his eyes. "This is Supreme Leader Hux of the First Order. You fleet is destroyed. Your allies have abandoned you and I…" He paused to smirk. "I have your General and all the traitors who were on that ship with her."
The image of him panned out to reveal Leia standing next to him with her hands folded in front of her. She didn't look scared, but did appear to be very annoyed. Apparently Hux did not make for good company.
Ben pushed off from the wall beside her, no doubt about to step forward so Hux would be able to hear him, but Rey stuck out her hand to stop him as Hux continued. "You have nothing left. Surrender. Give me the traitor, Kylo Ren and I may let you live."
Rey snorted, knowing full well that he wouldn't let them live if they surrendered. She stepped forward until Hux could see her and saw his eyes narrow in confusion. He had only seen her once, but whether or not he had realized she was the Jedi everyone kept talking about was a mystery. "There will be no surrendering today, General Hux, believe me."
"Who are you?" He snapped, his voice a mixture of anger and genuine curiosity.
"Oh my apologies. I'm Rey. The one who convinced Kylo Ren to betray you in the first place. The Jedi." She paused for a second to smile when his eyes widened, and crossed her arms. "The one who should be afraid here, is you."
His eyes narrowed again. "And why is that, Jedi?"
Rey smiled and touched her chin thoughtfully. "Think about it. You've heard the stories of the power of the Jedi right? And no doubt you've seen or even felt the power of the Sith." There was a grimace and Rey's smile widened a bit. Ben had told her about the times he had used the force to shut Hux up. Either by throwing him or choking him. She had struck a nerve. "The light and the dark. Imagine what someone could do with both at their disposal, hmm? Let me repeat myself. There will be no surrender but the war will end today. And it won't be the Resistance that is left standing. Or your precious First Order. It will be me and all who stand beside me. Your enemy is no longer the Resistance. It's me. And you should prepare yourself, General. Because I am coming for you."
The last thing Rey saw before she motioned for the connection to be cut, was a look of fear in Hux's eyes. She had succeeded in scaring him, and she would use that fear to her advantage.
"Great." Poe sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Now security will be even tighter. How are we supposed to get on board?"
"If he's as paranoid as I think he is..."
"He is…"
Rey turned to see Ben look away sheepishly after interrupting her, then continued. "...then he'll bring all of his security onto one ship to protect himself, leaving the rest of the ships vulnerable. Easier to attack."
He nodded and crossed his arms. "And how do we get to Hux?"
"You aren't getting to anyone. It will be me and Ben. The rest of you will stay here."
There was a short silence that followed while Poe figured out what she said, but the pilot from before answered first. "When you said it wouldn't be the Resistance standing at the end of all this…"
"The Resistance is over." Rey sighed and dropped her hands. "There is only one way this ends and it is with both sides losing."
The girl stood and clenched her fists. "But after all we've done. We've put our lives into this fight!"
She understood where she was coming from. She really did. But there was no other way. "And now it's time to stop! Both sides lose. Otherwise you win and it keeps going. You blow them up today. They blow you up tomorrow. It's a cycle and it never stops." Rey had to pause to take a break. "This fight has been happening for decades now and it is time to break the cycle. So yes. Your Resistance is dead. And I know Leia agrees with me. She's already said as much."
"Alright. Alright fine." Poe finally spoke again stepping towards her. "So the Resistance is over. Okay. But if you think we are letting you go in there alone, then you are insane, Rey."
Rey opened her mouth to object, but Poe shushed her immediately and continued. "No listen. We won't go in as Resistance. We are going in as your friends. You said that the ones left standing on top will be you and anyone who stands beside you. So let us stand beside you."
That stunned her into silence. In her quest to stop the war. In saving them, she had almost forgot why she was doing it. To keep her friends safe. But friendship went both ways. If she wouldn't let them die, then they wouldn't let her die. She couldn't speak as Finn stepped forward to join Poe in her announcement, and then Chewbacca, BB-8 and one by one, everyone else who stood in the room. Ben stepped forward too, and placed a hand on her shoulder and Rey swore out of the corner of her eye that she saw the blue mist of a force ghost.
More friends than she ever thought she would have. It made her eyes sting.
A/N- I planned on doing more this chapter, but if I kept going this chapter would have gotten far too long xD
Though I'm sure you guys wouldn't be opposed to a longer chapter, for the sake of storytelling it was a good place to end it :)
Anyone else notice how Rey is getting a bit cocky? No one is there to tell everyone she's the chosen one so it has to be her! Thank god Poe is there to remind her of who she is!
-Ash