Author's Note: Hey everyone! The story is really picking up and I have so many plans for it going forward! As always let me know what you think! -Cork
Rey let out a small whimper as the four of them ran through the dark corridors of what he now assumed was the Finalizer. He couldn't believe that he even caused her pain trying to save her from her pain. Why had he believed that he could help her, he was pure disaster and he knew inevitable he'd destroy her too.
Ben was so distracted by his own thoughts he almost ran right into Poe in front of him. Poe gave him a look of pure venom as he mouthed the word stormtroopers.
Ben prepared himself, even if he was unarmed, he wasn't defenseless. Poe and Finn readied their blasters, but Ben was preparing his mind. A squad of stormtroopers turned the corner, eight in total. Poe quickly got a grab of one and Finn fired on another as the hall spiraled into chaos.
He pulled his force around himself and let that shield slowly spread out to his recent allies. Then he thought of that very chaos and fear and used it to fuel his spirit. But he was still too weak, so he remembered the strange power he felt with Rey on Rishi. The power grew in him and he released it with a scream.
A wave of force pushed through the hallway as the remaining troopers slammed into the hard metal walls. The blow was so strong a few panels flew from the wall exposing their mechanical insides. Both Finn and Poe looked at him with confusion and amazement, they were frozen in shock.
"Let's just get to hangar." Ben said as he continued past the paralyzed men. He attempted to look strong but truly the energy had made him lightheaded and dizzy. However, he just kept moving taking this whole escape one step at a time.
He looked down at Rey in his arms. She was so injured, how had he let this happen? He should have protected her, but instead he led her right to the worse place possible. Ben knew Rey had gotten the worse of the torture, she was on her death bed for Force sake. The tears started to build in his eyes from all the suffering he had caused.
Even now he could feel a new darkness in her. Her signature was just a tint darker, but he knew it was because of him. He'd ruined that part of her, he had irreversible changed her and it was for the worse. He had left his mark on her just as he had on so many others throughout the galaxy. But to be honest, the one person who he cared about influencing most was her.
Rey had risked everything for him, and how did he repay her? By putting a target on her hand and letting her get tortured just to use against him. She'd become a pawn to be used against him and he couldn't stand that thought. She easily could have been killed, stars she still could be, they weren't out of the woods yet.
"Here we are." Finn said as they turned the corner into the hangar, they were almost there. He froze in place as he turned the corner and there in the hangar sat The Millennium Falcon. Before he could process all the mixed feelings the ship brought him, he felt a familiar force from his childhood, Chewbacca. Ben swore the blaster wound on his hip seemed to ache from the force of the creature who caused it.
This was too much he couldn't do this, he couldn't face him and what he'd done to him. He just stood there paralyzed in fear, until finally Poe broke the spell, "Come on we need to get out of here!"
Only then did Ben realize there were being fired on, he took off in a sprint towards the absolute last place he wanted to be, his father's ship. But nonetheless, he continued and tried to shield at least Rey and himself for the blaster bolts as Finn and Poe returned fire. Bolts flew all around the hangar and flames and sparks shot from where the missed shots finally found targets.
As they ran up the ramp, the force of his father almost brought him to his knees, it surrounded him all around, almost as if the entire ship was forged with his force. He tried to keep the memories of the time he'd spent here as a child, being chased down these same corridors and playing hide-n-seek in the secret smuggling compartments at bay.
He tried not to think of it as he made his way to the crew quarters, Finn opened his mouth to give him directions until he awkwardly realized that he knew this ship very well. Poe ran to cockpit and Finn climbed down to the gunner position. But Ben could care less, as he entered the crew quarters he gently laid Rey done on a cot and pulled the blanket over her since she was still shivering quite violently.
Ben felt the ship lift off as he got to his feet to get Rey some water, when she reached out and grabbed his leg. "Ben, don't leave." She sounded panicked.
He kneeled down so he could see her face. "Hey, I'm just going to get water, I'll be right back."
As he walked through the hallways with the water he could hear Poe and Chewy yelling and Finn firing the cannons in response. Even now he felt like he was just a ghost, awkwardly in the background of all the chaos. It reminded him of how he had often felt with his parents on this very ship, them arguing as he explored the ship in the times his father was home.
Ben hated this flood of memories he was experiencing here he wished he could just escape from this place it was all too much for him. As he reentered the room he felt them take off into hyperspace, but he barely noticed as the sight of Rey was almost just a shocking as when he saw her in that cell.
Her face was still covered in dry blood and it was now obvious that her lip was split contributing to blood running down her face. And her nose was crooked and swollen and he knew it had to be broken, not to mention even with the blanket and his shirt, she was still visibly shivering. Force just the sight of her brought tears to his eyes again.
He busied himself, getting her another blanket, but as he placed it on her Finn entered the small room, Ben tried to ignore him. He used the glass of water and a rag to clean some of the blood off her face.
"You know you can't stay here right?" Finn finally broke the silence, but Ben tried to keep his mind off it. "Poe refuses to bring you back to base."
He couldn't say he hadn't seen it coming. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
"We'll give you back your lightsaber and we'll take you where ever you want to go."
Ben could feel the pit in his stomach growing with dread and anxiety. "Taris." Was all he could get out, it was the only place he could think of.
"Okay, I'll be back."
As he walked out Ben went into full panic mood, maybe he could get him and Rey out of here in an escape pod. He couldn't let the two of them be separated, not with her in this condition. Oh Force, he wasn't even sure she'd survive the journey. It's not like he really wanted to go with the resistance, but he just wanted to help Rey get well again.
He sat there next to her bed for a long time, it reminded him on their time at Ilum, Rey startled awake from her nightmare and him sleeping on the floor by her bed. He had no idea how much time pasted, since his mind was running wild trying to think of all the possibilities. He still hadn't decided when he felt the ship leave hyperspace.
Finn was standing in the door again, and Poe was watching over his shoulder. "Um… it's time." Ben just stared at them for a long time. Finn stepped up to him and with a sincere look he said, "She's safer with us."
It stuck a cord with him, he was right, she was safer here. He nodded holding back tears as he leaned in to Rey and kissed her lightly on forehead. As he was standing she opened her eyes, "Ben, stay here."
Her voice sent a knife through his heart. And he kneeled by her bed, "Hey Rey, I'm just going for a second. I'll be back soon. Just get some rest. I want you to know how sorry I am for all of this and being with you has been amazing."
She gave him a suspicious look, "Don't get sentimental on me Solo."
He hated that even barely conscious she was tried to joke with him, and now he was crying again as he leaned down to meet her split dry lips. He kissed her with all the pain and love he felt for her in that moment. "Just get some rest Rey."
He pulled the blankets back over her and turned to Finn and Poe in the door. He wiped the tears from his face as he steeled himself t take the journey away from her. As he lowered himself in the escape pod, he turned to Finn who had followed him. "Please take care of her and … and tell her I'm sorry."
Finn looked back at him honestly. "I will."
The small pod hissed as the door closed and he was launched from the ship. He couldn't help but watch as the ship trailed off into hyperspace. And as always, he was left behind as The Millennium Falcon took away those he loved.