Creeping into the dark and silent room, Rey held her breath as her feet lightly moved across the floor, noticing the empty beds she had passed earlier. She was not expecting Sano to be the only person to stay in the room, though she was not surprised given his attitude since he arrived.

Swallowing hard as the door shut, she used the little light that was offered to her from the hall, reaching her beneath the door. Sneaking to the edge of the bunk Sano claimed, she let the force take over her, not wanting to tune into it in fear that it would distract her before.

Rey allowed the flow to quiet her nerves, and as the force overcame her, she realized the presence in the room was Sano, but he was awake, as if expecting her.

With that, her eyes widened as the light flickered on above her, the dim bulb clinging on to dear life.

Sano filled her view, sitting up in his bed, glaring at her with cold, empty eyes. His fingers drummed against his leg, and Rey's blood ran cold as her eyes trailed down to his other hand that was holding a black and red blaster, pointed directly at her.

Ideas rushed through her head, ten at a time, on how to get out of the situation, thinking of how to conjure up the force to block his shot if her dared to fire, but in the moment, she could not deny that her fear took over, and everything else was blocked out.

"Sano, please." she begged.

"Don't you start. I don't know why you are here, but I could only guess it was you that came looking for something. I know you took the map. But, why would you return?" He asked, almost to himself. He steadily kept the blaster pointed at her as he stood from the bed, stepping closer to her.

"Tell me. Why are you trying to get to Cinnon'Ra?" Sano's hooded and angry gaze scared her just as much as his frigid and emotionless tone.

All Rey could do was stare up at him, her breathing growing heavy, as she felt the cold, hard metal of his blaster touch her through the cloth on her stomach.

She debated mind tricking him, maybe even out-maneuvering him and fighting him off, but she was in the end, weaponless, and he was the one with the big blaster placed directly on her. She couldn't take the chance of moving, or even trying any trick on him, not sure that it would work after trying it on Kylo Ren.

Sano moved the blaster from her abdomen, and pointed it directly at her forehead as he backed her up against the wall. "Tell me!"

Whimpering, Rey shook her head, not having any answer she could possibly give him, and from the corner of her view, she saw the glint of the kyber crystal shine from the hand that held the gun.

The hum was more vibrant than ever, the hunger and pull hitting her harder. Simply being so close to it was satisfying, but her hand twitched for it, her desire aching. Rey wanted to break from it, to shake her head in hopes that the trance would end, but she couldn't.

With a furrowed brow, Sano watched her eyes grow dark as she watched the ring on his finger. Adjusting the gun slightly so he could turn and look at his own hand, Rey noticed his slight distraction and acted on the chance now that the gun was not pointed towards her.

Ducking beneath his arm, she pushed with all her weight to take him to the ground, knocking him over a small chest that lay in front of an empty bed. Sano yelled his frustration, his hand losing the grip he had on the blaster as it slid from his hand and clattered to the floor.

His fist swung to hit her side as she crashed onto him, Sano's hit missing as they both fell to the ground.

Sano quickly bucked beneath her, flipping Rey onto her back as his elbow came down to connect with her cheek, however Rey sensed this and moved her head to the side before she was hit, a swift reminder of the force that beckoned her to use it's will, just as the ring came back into view as he aimed to strike again.

Unwillingly, her mind reached out to Kylo, begging the bond to open, but nothing happened, and distracted by her mind's call, she was hit in the stomach by a large fist that knocked the breath from her.

Wincing as Sano pushed himself off of her, kicking her in the same spot he had previously hit, he stood and she watched as he reached for the blaster and pointed it at her again. He scowled at her, his hand gripping the gun as he towered over her, Rey holding her injured side that was already turning black and blue.

Sano knew he had to make this quick, with all the noise, he was sure someone would have heard by now.

"Listen here, Jedi. I won." Sano spat, the blaster pointed only a couple of inches away from her abdomen. She lifted a weak hand and placed it over his as he gripped the gun tighter.

For a moment, he felt a rush of warmth and peace wash over him, nearly making him question why he was doing this, and the feeling was quickly gone when he felt Rey shudder, peering up at him with tear stained cheeks. He knew then, he had broken her bones with that kick.

Regaining his composure, remembering the challenge, remembering why he was there to begin with and the mission he had to accomplish, he shrugged her small hand off of his, pressed the point of the blaster to her bruised stomach, and fired his weapon.

- X -

"Re- Supreme Leader! Where are you going? We haven't gotten the fleet together, we can ready them up i-" Hux began through his comm channel to Kylo Ren, who was piloting his personal ship.

Kylo cursed, muting the general, hissing through his teeth as call beacon came in again.

Here he was, trying to save the same scavenger that refused him, tried to kill him, to end his rule…

Shaking his head, he clenched his teeth as he took off, his ship flying through lightspeed as he weighed his options and came up with a plan.

After some time, Kylo's ship came into view of a small island of the empty planet, Excora. In the dark of the night, he was able to easily spot the base he knew Rey was at. Using the force, he tried to reach out to her again as he attempted numerous times on his way out there, but was unsuccessful once more.

He was about to curse again, but was stopped abruptly as he watched a rouge ship take off from the base, bullets and blaster shots gunning for the rear of it, missing terribly. Kylo quickly moved his ship to the side of the island, out of view from the base but was able to keep watch on the other ship as it reared around and aimed back towards the grounds, shooting it's own retaliation.

Kylo thought for a moment as chaos erupted before him. He could not think of anyone who would be behind this, keeping in mind that he had his own eyes on Hux at all times. In no way could it be a troop from the First order.

Which meant, he thought, the Resistance leader must have angered someone.

He gulped, not having thought of her for quite some time. Kylo knew she was here, just inside that base that this stranger was shooting up…

Moving his ship just a bit, he watched the base, his mind timidly reaching out to feel her presence, and felt it so strongly his breath stopped, nearly able to feel her there with him in his mother. She was surprised, she was scared, she was trying to run…

'I can let this person destroy the whole resistance… I can let them destroy my mother… I could be leader, the true ruler of the galaxy… the new order, mine…'

His thumb slowly fell away from the trigger he was about to pull to fire on the other ship, to stop the fight it started… And then, the visual of Rey bleeding to her death on the floor of his chambers filled his mind.

Before he could think about it, his thumb was back on the trigger, firing up at the ship before him, rocking it away from the base. The ship steadied itself, the side of it smoking from the hit it took from Kylo.

Kylo's ship darted around the back of the island, the mountains providing cover to him from both the enemy ship and the base. The ship was quickly behind him, shooting at Kylo as he darted from side to side, dodging every blast and avoiding every curve of the mountain they stuck near.

- X -

In the dark of the night, all the Resistance members could see was the two ships firing at one another, not able to make out who was piloting either of the aircrafts. Screams and cries filled the air as they hurried to bring their dead and injured inside, their own fighters gearing up for the oncoming fight.

From the ground, Poe Dameron ran to the nearest ship, yelling for BB-8 to join him. Leia Organa trotted to him from the entrance of the docking bay.

"Poe! Stand down!" she yelled at him, Poe whipping around to look at her in disbelief.

"General, those are unknown fighters above our base, one of which just tried to attack us using our own ship!"

"I'm aware!" Leia was cut off as her and Poe were ushered to the side to make room for an injured member being carried on a stretcher. Leia shook her head before tears could even threaten to reach her eyes. "The other is fighting the ship off, it's not meant to hurt us!"

"No, you can't know that! Air control didn't even spot this person entering orbit here, we have no idea who this is!" Poe yelled back, grabbing his pilot's helmet from the nearby crate.

"This is an order, you are to stand down. I felt the presence of the pilot, and I am ordering you to back off." Leia said, standing tall, her voice stern and demanding. Poe froze in his tracks, cursing to himself as he remembered the last time they were in this situation. If he was supposed to show that he could have control, now was the time.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Poe put his helmet back in the compartment as BB-8 rolled up to them, whistling his shock of Poe's obedience.

Leia nodded to Poe, thankful that he didn't put up a fight on this. She knew her son, Ben Solo, was piloting the ship that was fighting back against Sano, and for whatever reason he was here, she was thankful.

She had counted that this was the second time he spared her life, and that ignited her hope more than ever.

From behind her, she heard Finn, Rose and the two newest members, Flora and Kai, run up them.

"It's Sano! I could sense him! He did this!" Flora cried. Leia nodded, grasping the girls arm. She could feel how horrified the young ones were, but she could not deny that she did feel Sano's rage the moment he snapped. What worried her more, was that she could not feel Rey any longer, nor could Leia find her.

"I knew that bastard was up to something, I kn-" Finn began, Rose quickly hushed him and gripped his hand.

Looking past the group, Leia watched in the dark shadows of the sky as Ben's ship came face to face with Sano's, firing once more at the young man, blowing the corner of the ships wing off. Sano quickly reared around, and left the area, and Leia assumed, left Excora.

Her heart skipped a beat as she watched her son's ship begin to follow, and abruptly turn around to face the Resistance base, aiming high to go over the mountain that towered over the base, as if to give off the impression that it was leaving.

Leia knew better, she even felt it. He was planning on landing, and she was determined to meet him.

Looking around her, Leia took in the scene.

There were small fires here and there from where Sano blasted other ship parts, going right for the engine to ignite the flames. Part of the base's entrance was torn off, and debris scattered across the courtyard. Dozens of resistance members were trying to help the fallen, who had rushed outside once the alarms were triggered, warning of an intruder.

'The perfect attack… How could I let this happen…' the princess thought.

"Leia?" Rose asked.

The generals attention was brought back to the small group in front of her, all their faces etched with concern and worry.

Shaking it off, Leia brushed past them, heading down the stairs that led to the grounds of the base.

"Help the others, prepare all ships and gather as much resources as you can. We have to leave Excora." Leia ordered, her back to Flora, Kai, Finn, Rose, Poe, and BB-8. They all remained silent, watching their leader go.

Kylo Ren quickly landed his ship on the other side of the mountain, making sure to stay out of view of the Resistance base that stationed opposite him. He tried to give off the appearance that he had left the planet all together, and was satisfied that no one had followed him.

Grabbing a plain, black cloak, Kylo exited his ship, long and fast strides taking him swiftly through the forest that surrounded him.

In the distance ahead of him, he felt a familiar presence, anger meeting his already tense mood when he felt it was not who he wanted.

He looked up, nothing but darkness meeting his view, but he knew she was there.

He scowled, his hand balling into a fist as he resisted the urge to grab at his lightsaber.

"I am not here for you." He said, venom pouring from every word as he strode towards the figure behind a tree.

"And why are you here, Ben?" the sad and fragile voice called to him.

His teeth ached as he clenched them even harder. He had not expected to run into her, and especially did not want to be speaking to her at that.

"I do not answer to you here, or anywhere for that matter."

Once he was a few feet away, he stopped in his tracks.

He towered over her, just as he always had since he was just a small child. Her presence was as strong as ever, making a statement wherever she was, she knew how to command and control a room in an instant, he would give her that much.

"I watched you help us. Why would you do that? When you're the very one we are at war with?" Leia asked, her tone growing stern.

Kylo remained silent, and it gave Leia a moment to think, coming to a surprising discovery. The link between every event thus far, was the girl. She was the awakening, the shift, the last jedi…

"Rey?" she asked, almost disbelieving. If her son, the galaxy's enemy, made the trip to help her….to help her cause… did that mean…

At the mention of her name, both Kylo and Leia were reminded that the bigger issue lay at hand.

Rey was not okay.

Swallowing hard, his tone dark, Kylo broke the silence. "She's in trouble…" he said, almost painfully.

Leia nodded. The moon above her gave just enough light to show her Ben's face. 'My son…' she thought, her heart aching. He had grown so much, and he was here, for the girl he cared for.

"I'll get you in. I don't know where she's at , but I know she's in trouble, too." Leia began, her eyes falling to the ground around them. So much had happened in so little time, she was beginning to doubt her sanity at this moment, not believing the words that came out of her mouth. "I am taking a chance, the lives of our members….Do not hurt her, and do not hurt the members on this base. After… everything …" her thoughts formed around the face of her partner, her love, Han Solo. Kylo sensed this, and tensed, casting the dark and regretful cloud he felt well up in him to the side. "After everything, I am siding with hope… I am siding with Rey…"

With that, Leia turned and led Kylo Ren to a secret entrance at the side of the resistance base, hidden well behind branches and old ship parts.

They scurried in the dark tunnels, approaching the base itself after some time. Kylo tried to call out to Rey through the force once more, unsuccessful again, this time however he was not met with any static at all, just pure silence.

Once they were at the main underground entrance, Leia halted their steps, holding a dainty hand up to stop Kylo. She slowly opened the door, being met by a resistance fighter who asked if she was okay. She nodded quickly, walking the fighter away from the door that hid Kylo on the other side.

"I'm fine, please send out a command through the intercom to have all members and fighters meet at the hall, bandage up the injured. We have no time to spare. I want every member of the rebellion cleared from the east and west wing, do you understand?" Leia asked, ushering the fighter out of the room.

He nervously nodded, hurrying out to go tell the others of the general's command.

Kylo let himself through the door, blankly glancing around the dimly lit command center.

Turning to her son, Leia shook her head. "I don't know where to start. You have to keep your hood on and head down, just in case. I can't feel her…" her eyes fell to the ground again. "Her room is in the east wing down the large hall. Sano's bunker is in the west, only bed in the resting area." She said.

"I'll start there." He said, brushing past Leia without a second glance.

"Ben?" she called, he froze there, not turning.

"Do not call me that again." His voice was full of rage and hostility, and the fact that he was so close to the resistance, she did not want to push him any further. She watched, her heart breaking as he reached the door, swinging it open with no hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, the presence that was left of Han, the presence of her son, was gone.

He checked every single bedroom, every bunker, and every sanitation closet.

He saw nothing, he felt nothing.

Frustratingly, he kept his promise to the scavenger, not hurting anyone on the base. Kylo came across two members of the resistance who were trying to make their way to whatever hall his mother ordered them to, and mind tricked them into seeing nothing and hurrying on.

He was losing time, and patience.

He replayed their last connection over and over again and he slammed his fast against the wall he approached, angry that nothing was sticking out from the memory except for the pain he felt from Rey, and the sight of her…

He hissed, raking a hand through his hair as he closed his eyes.

Focusing on her, he tuned into the force, this time,not focusing on her light…and instead on her dark… His eyes flew open as he remembered the hum the of the crystal, and at the memory, he felt his bones vibrate, felt the power the crystal held.

Wherever that crystal was, it was home.

It was with her.

Alarm coursed through him, the thought of her reuniting with the dark crystal sending him in a bigger frenzy.

The hum tugged him on, pulling him down each stair, past each open door, past every room he searched until he approached one he went over last. The hum quieted, replaced with a heated, electrifying jolt as he neared it.

He stood in the room he was in moments ago, a room with bare walls and rows of bunkers. At first glance, you could not see her, her beige garb blending in with same colored blankets and sheets, and you could barely even see her small, bloody frame over the beds.

But there she lay, lifeless in the middle of two bunks, surrounded by her own blood, her wound dark beneath the stained gash.

Forgetting the crystal, Kylo swallowed hard as he bent to scoop her up, his stomach tightening and jaw clenching, for in his arms he held his life.

He held Rey.

- X -

Authors Note:

Yay! A longer chapter. Sorry I took a little while longer than I usually do to update, but I had a lot to say and a lot to edit. Hope you guys like it! Thank you so much for the reads and new comments! You guys and gals give me life.

I wasn't able to go see Solo last weekend, but I am going this weekend. Tickets already bought!

P.S. LISTEN TO COMEDYBANGBANG PODCAST WITH BEN SCHWARTZ AND THOMAS MIDDLEDITCH. (Spotify or Stitcher app as far as I know.)

It is THE funniest episode of any podcast I have ever listened to lmao. Seriously.

ONE MORE THING: thanks again (: leave me love?.