Chapter 17: Won't Leave You This Time
The circle-the-wagons moment when Kylo arrived at Vader's castle on Mustafar could best be described as macabre.
The Knights of Ren were groveling and in danger of wetting themselves when their Master strode in, furious that they had dared to accept and carry out orders on behalf of someone else. Kylo used the insubordination as a teachable moment - after flinging his Knights in every direction and shocking them with Force lightning, he calmly informed them that the Dominance had been downed, Armitage Hux was dead, and the Jedi girl had escaped. Roughly translated, the Knights' little sojourn over to Bonadan had basically amounted to nothing.
Well, that wasn't exactly true. In fact, it was worse, as the fiasco on Bonadan had done more than garner a net neutral effect. It had garnered a net negative effect. To add to their humiliation, Kylo made his Knights recount in excruciating detail exactly what had happened on Bonadan. They had tracked the Falcon from the Moddell sector to the harbor world, and attempted to kill Rey from a distance by blowing up the main fishing wharf. When that didn't work, the Knights landed on world and surrounded her, leading to a forced surrender. The one snag had been the loss of Axel, at the hands of some busybody bounty hunter who had gotten in the way. The casualty only added to Kylo's displeasure - Axel had been his best Knight, and he could only imagine the indignity of being brought down by bounty hunting scum. Maker, what a shitshow.
Off to one side, Allegiant General Pryde took in the come-to-Kylo moment silently and placidly. But the message was meant just as much for him, too: don't cross Kylo Ren or you'll end up like Hux.
Now, as a disquieting evening fell over the lava planet, Kylo reclined in his grandfather's throne, Pryde standing off the one armrest. Kylo's Knights took positions around him on a maze of catwalks crossing the expanse of a river of lava, which flowed through the structure. The castle itself straddled the banks of the river where Darth Vader had been cut down by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
That straddling now seemed to personify the two banks of Kylo's split soul. On the one bank was the soothing rush of power - needed after the terror of not being in control and watching your wife held hostage. On the other bank was the reminder that no, he had to get out of here - he had to bring down the First Order and walk away so he could start a new life with his beloved spouse.
Rey. Just thinking of her, Kylo felt her presence in the Force... but it wasn't because the opening of the Bond was imminent. No, he felt her because she was here, on this planet, fast approaching. He could see her, in the hallway just beyond.
The hydraulic door rushed up and open with a hiss, to reveal Ben's beautiful, fierce wife, the blue plasma of Anakin's saber ignited.
Kylo stood from his throne, mouth open in shock in an unusual moment of vulnerability. Every muscle in his body chilled as his own Knights tensed, fingers twitching over their weapons. Pryde also appeared taken aback.
"It's the Jedi! Kill her, my Lord!"
Kylo didn't move, his eyes only for the beautiful woman standing across the catwalk from him. Now, more than ever, he wished he could silently communicate his love and panic for her through the Force... except at least half of his Knights were Force-senstive and might be tipped off. He definitely couldn't give anything away on his face, anymore than perhaps he already had. He had no choice but to communicate to her with his eyes, while keeping the rest of his expression apathetic. Don't, sweetheart. Please. Don't force the issue. Turn. Run away.
Unfortunately, he knew his Rey better than that. She stood her ground, gazing at him with fierce determination, loyalty, support and love. The perfect embodiment of a wife committed to her marriage, committed to her husband. Tears pricked at her eyes, and she tried to keep them at bay.
"I won't leave you!" she cried out. "Not this time."
Ben's heart broke. He couldn't run to her, lest he wanted to give the game away and place them both back in danger. Tragically, he still had a part to play, and he had to play it well, as much as it agonized him to. Igniting his blood-red lightsaber, and hoping that the hidden meaning in his eyes was not lost to her amidst the acting in his face and posture, he growled, "Then... you will die."
He hadn't given the direct order, but his Knights interpreted it as though he had. All five now swooped in to take Rey down, as if they had learned nothing from Bonadan. Once again surrounded on all sides, Rey froze with fear and uncertainty, her eyes locking with her husband's in a desperate plea.
"BEN!" she cried. Help me!
At that moment, glancing to his immediate left, Ben saw the spirit of Anakin Skywalker, his eyes as pleading as those of his wife. Though he couldn't hear the words with how his own hearing felt like it was underwater, Ben saw Anakin's lips form the words and registered them.
I failed to save the love of my life. You don't have to.
Ben's eyes bulged with terror.
"STOP!"
But the Knights didn't stop, although some of them did jump, startled, at their Master's bellowing outburst.
That wouldn't be the last surprise, as Ben Force leapt into the midst of his Knights, landing at his wife's side and attacked. He sliced off Sirimus Ren's machete arm first, leaving a bleeding stump, before stabbing him straight through the chest. Spinning, he blocked Proximo Ren's overhead swipe with a pair of sai. Throwing out a hand, Ben used the Force to propel Proximo off the catwalk so that he fell with a scream into the lava river below. Behind him, he felt the Force presence of Vlaniut Ren get abruptly snuffed out as Rey viciously dismembered all his limbs and left him to bleed out on the metal.
This entire exchange took place in seconds, as Ben and Rey now turned to face one remaining opponent apiece, each launching into a reverse leap so that husband and wife now fought back-to-back. Tazla Ren and Epsilon Ren circled the couple, the former with a taser and the latter with a bowcaster.
Activating his jet pack, Epsilon launched into the air, making straight for Kylo. He opened fire with the bowcaster, Ben blocking all the blaster bolts with his saber.
Save one, which hit him squarely in his saber arm. Growling through the pain, Ben Force leapt towards Epsilon. Twisting into a somersault at the last second, he slashed through the liquid fire in his arm, turning the jet pack propulsor into a shower of sparks. Epsilon spun out, crashed headlong into the castle wall, before dropping past the catwalk and out of sight towards the lava below.
Hearing a scream, Ben spun about to find Tazla electrocuting Rey. His wife leapt back with a scream. Thinking fast, Ben called through the Bond.
Let her come to you again.
Rey nodded. When Tazla charged once more, Rey blocked the taser with her lightsaber, turned under and trapped the Knight in a chokehold, turning the electric weapon on its own Master. Tazla's body spazzed under the sparks until Ben leapt forward and stabbed his red blade into her side.
Tazla dropped to the ground and lay still. For a moment, all that could be heard was the panting of the two Jedi, as they gazed at each other.
Then, letting out strangled, twin gasps, Ben and Rey rushed to each other, embraced and passionately kissed.
Wrapped in each other's arms, only the Force alerted Rey to another threat. When she popped her eyes open after melting into her husband's long kiss, it was almost too late.
"Ben!"
PING! An enraged Pryde sent a blaster bolt straight into Ben's side. Grunting, the ex-Supreme Leader dropped to the catwalk. Letting out a feral scream, Rey was on the Allegiant General before he could so much as raise his gun again, bringing down her blue plasma down on his head, his arms, everywhere again and again and again. Within moments, the bludgeoned officer lay sprawled and morbidly quiet.
Whirling around, a stricken Rey fell to her knees at Ben's side and gathered him up in her arms. "My poor darling... I'm so sorry..." she whimpered, and she cradled his head in her lap, her tears pattering onto his face like sweet rain.
Ben was shivering violently, gargling, struggling to get air. His adoring eyes only for Rey, he reached up trembling fingers to brush her face. "Rey... I told you not to... you came back..."
Tamping down a sob, Rey smiled tearfully at him. "Of course I came back! What kind of wife would I be if I didn't come back for my husband?"
Ben's breathing was becoming more labored. "Maybe... maybe it's better this way, sweetheart. Even if I made it... home, they'd never let us be together..."
"Ssssssssh..." Rey crooned. "Don't talk like that! You'll be all right..." Her throat clogged up. "We're together now - always will be, you'll see..."
"At least... I got to see you... one last time..."
Snuggling him closer, Rey slowly sang to him:
"We are home... we are where we shall be forever... Trust in me, for you know I won't run away... From today, this is all that I need and all that I need to say... Home should be where the heart is. I'm certain as I can be: I've found home. You're my home. Stay... with... me..."
"Rey... I..." Ben was fading fast.
"Yes?" she sobbed. She froze as he slumped in her arms. "No... No, please! Please, don't leave me! Please..." Through her tears, she drew forth in a fierce whisper, "I love you... I love you!"
Nothing responded to Rey's bitter sobs except the rushing of the lava below, as she nuzzled her face against his, resting her hands on his chest.
And then...
A golden glow emanated from Ben's side wound, the brightness and warmth of it spreading throughout his chest. Lifting her head, eyes widening in shock, Rey shrank back, watching intently.
The golden glow finally faded and Rey watched in awe as her husband stood, healthy and strong. Beaming at her, he took her hands and helped her to her feet, amused by how she was staring at him as if she'd never seen him before.
"Rey..." he murmured. "It's me."
Rey's face broke out into the most beaming smile as she reached out to touch his face. "It is you!"
Beaming into each other's eyes, Rey and Ben leaned in and shared another long kiss.
As soon as they did, the Force itself exulted, engulfing the couple in bright and swirling light of every color. Closing her eyes blissfully, Rey clutched Ben tightly, and she felt him do the same to her. And then, high above them, fireworks peeled, shrieking into the skies above Vader's castle and Mustafar. Here, where Anakin Skywalker had first knocked the Force out of equilibrium, his grandson and granddaughter-in-law had brought Balance back.
"Uhhhh..."
Dreamily breaking the kiss at last, Ben and Rey's gazes snapped as one to the sound. At their feet, the form of Tazla Ren was stirring on the ground and moaning, still alive. Biting her lip in concern, and confident that the downed Knight was far from strong enough to pose a threat, Rey knelt at her side. She felt and found a pulse. Her life essence in the Force was also there.
Ben studied his wife and her natural compassion. Feeling a rumble, he glanced about anxiously. It would not be long yet before the last edifice to Vader came tumbling down, willed on by the Force. He had no desire to be here when it did. "Rey... there's no time."
Rey glanced up to him. "She seems to be all right." And indeed, Tazla had taken the weakest hits out of all the Knights. Other than a lightsaber stab wound - non-fatal - and enduring high amounts of electricity, she had a chance at surviving, though an outside one.
"Leave her, or we'll never make it!" If there was ever a point where Ben truly wanted to let the past die, this was it.
But Rey held firm. "Her fate will be the same as ours."
Ben had no choice but to acquiesce and carry Tazla back to where Rey had parked the Falcon. Now hurtling the freighter through deep space, Ben sat back at his father's controls with Rey in his lap, happily kissing. Drawing away from her lips softly, Ben murmured,
"What's your favorite flower?"
Rey threw back her head and laughed, playing with the nape of his neck. "Hardly any flowers grew on Jakku when I was growing up. But I did save a rose once and tried to water it." She paused, peering at him. "What's yours?"
Ben grinned. "A daisy." Rey beamed. A moment later, though, her gaze dimmed into something contemplative, as she asked:
"How is Lando your uncle?"
Ben sighed wistfully. "He was my godfather. My dad's best friend. He'd sometimes come fly with dad and I when I was little."
Thinking back to the hotel in Canto Bight going up in smoke, Rey squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry."
"Urrrrrrrr..."
A groan from Tazla made the couple glance back to where she was hanging by a thread in the functioning med cot - now feeding her critical nutrients and performing what surgery it could on her wounds. Ben frowned. He still wasn't sure about Rey's decision to rescue her, and even less sure that Tazla would make it. He hadn't expected for any to limp away from the First Order other than himself - not even himself.
The thought reminded him off one last loose thread he would have to snip off, and reaching around Rey, he gunned the thrusters. "We need to strike a final blow against the First Order, before it finds the Resistance."
"OK," Rey nodded. "Who is it?"
"Admiral Puesey. Abord the Finalizer."
A/N: Elements of this come from Chapter 21 of jp2187's lovely AO3 Star Wars: Legacy of the Chosen One.
