CHAPTER TWENTY

AN: As promised, a new chapter one day later. Hope you're all keeping safe 3

Hux comes back into himself on his knees in his private quarters. For one brief, glorious moment, he stood in Kylo Ren's body, stared into General Organa's eyes, so wide and dark with concern, with fear. He fed on the turmoil within Kylo, one he hadn't known to exist in the time he had know him. But there it was, a rift building between the two parts in one whole. Tearing Ren apart.

... and as long as he is divided, we can strike and win ...

The moment he had to look presented a fleeting glimpse of their surroundings.

... do you know where they are? ...

The cave was too banal to stand out, but sight was not the only sense gained in that period of time when he had been Ren. Memory too. Of a moment aboard the Millennium Falcon, of coordinates on a screen.

"I might have an idea..."

#

Poe and Finn load supplies onto the Millennium Falcon. Chewie helps, growling all the while.

"What's he saying?" Finn asks as Chewie gives a particularly loud roar amidst a rumbling of unintelligible Wookie.

Poe shrugs. "Beats me. But I can guess at it well enough." He deepens his voice and growls. "I hate that Kylo Ren. Does he really have to come with us? I'd much rather tear his head from his body."

Finn guffaws. Chewie gives an appreciate grunt as he passes them going down the ramp as they ascend into the ship.

C-3PO jabbers away with R2-D2 in one corner. BB-8 rolls along behind Poe. He doesn't stop fast enough when Poe does and rams hard into the back of his boot.

"Eyes on the road, BB," Poe grins down at his droid and gives him an affectionate pet. "You sure you're ready for this trip, buddy?"

BB-8 whirs and rolls eagerly.

"And you?" Finn asks. "You ready?"

Poe, in his crouched position, stares up at Finn. "Not really. But at least I have you with me."

"And who do I have?" Finn asks, his lips curved in a teasing crook. One that quickly falters back into a frown. "I don't trust him."

"We'll just need to keep alert," Poe says, rising and clapping a hand on Finn's shoulder. "Look out for each other. And for Rey."

"Rey," Finn repeats absentmindedly. "I'm worried about the hold he has on her."

"I know, Finn. Hey." Poe cups Finn's cheek, angles his head closer to his own. "We're going to be okay. Promise."

Finn rests his brow against Poe's. "I'm still a little mad at you."

"Understandably."

Poe shifts his head up, his lips seeking Finn's. Finn responds, bridging the gap, bringing their lips together into one sweet, tender embrace.

"I hate you," Finn mutters into Poe's mouth.

Poe chuckles into his as they pull apart. "There are days I hate myself too. But not today." He breaks away from Finn and sighs. "I wish it were just you and I on this mission."

"Rey and Rose aren't—" But what they aren't remains unsaid. Finn furrows his brow, presses a hand against his forehead, grimacing.

"Finn?" Poe steadies him, in case, two hands planted on either shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Something's happening." As the words pass from Finn's lips,

...

...

so three pass from Rey's. "Something isn't right."

"What?"

But Rose's question goes unanswered as Rey turns on her heel and flees back to the caves. Rose is a step behind her. And somewhere behind her she is aware that Finn and Poe are racing in the same direction.

Ben?

She flings his name out through the universe, guided by the Force, but there is no reply. Only a palpable fear cleaving through like a sharp blade.

Leia?

The answer is another emotion. Uncertainty mingled with concern.

The truth of what has come to pass reveals itself as Rey stumbles into the cave to the sight of Leia kneeling on the ground, Kylo—no, Ben's—head resting on her lap.

"What happened?" Rey asks, falling on the ground beside her. She touches a finger to Ben's naked wrist and feels the steady, slow pulse. He's not dead. Only... Injured? Unconscious?

"It happened so quickly, I can't be sure," Leia replies. She touches a hand to her face, a face so drawn with lines of weariness and grief. "I never understood until now just how real Kylo Ren was, and just how deep he had imprisoned Ben Solo."

"What does that mean?"

Feet tread on the ground. Rey senses each presence. Rose. Finn. Poe. They are speechless, breathless from running, but without words to speak.

"The part of him that is Ben is trying to break free, but it's killing that part of him that is Kylo Ren. And in the struggle, the Sith possessed him. He fought back," Leia adds hurriedly as terror reigns over Rey's face. "They're gone. I think. But for a second..."

Leia bends low, brushing her lips delicately against Ben's brow. He stirs without waking.

"So, what do we do?" Rey asks. "To restore Ben without killing him?"

"I don't know yet, and there's so much more that we have to do before we worry about that." Her voice is strained as she speaks, torn with the decision she's spoken. "You have to go." Leia looks up, over Rey's shoulder, to where Poe, Rose, and Finn are still standing in silent wait. "Take him with you. When he wakes, insist that he keep a wall, that he force Ben down until this is done."

"But what if it's Ben we need?" Rey asks.

"There's no time right now, Rey," Leia says, gently, but firmly. "I fear..."

Rey knows it then, the concern. If the Sith possessed Ben for even a second... "They might know where we are."

"We need to move the Resistance. And you need to find a way to destroy the Sith."

Leia turns her head down once more, strokes a hand through Ben's hair. "I hope we shall see each other again," she whispers to him, "when this is done and we have won."

Rey turns away from this farewell from a mother to her son. She meets Rose's eye, then Poe's, then Finn's. Something like sympathy is reflected in each.

Leia's voice calls for Poe and Finn to come and take Ben away. Their teeth are clenched, their expressions begrudging, but they comply without complaint.

Before they go, she claps a hand on each of their shoulders. "Be safe. And don't let your heads get too hot."

"We won't let you down," Poe promises fervently.

Leia hugs Rose next and sends her off with a simple, "Stay true to yourself."

Rose sniffles and takes off.

Alone with Leia, Rey struggles for the perfect words to tell her all she feels, all the love she's known for her, all the gratitude she possesses for this surrogate mother.

"We'll go to the prison planet, I think," Leia says. "Once you're gone, we'll make preparations. Don't worry about us."

"And don't worry about him. I'll protect him."

"Protect yourself." Leia pulls her into an embrace, one that Rey could stay in forever, knowing that love and hope holds her safe. "I am so proud of you, Rey."

"I owe you so much," Rey murmurs, fighting the welling tears, as Leia lets her go.

As one, they say, "May the Force be with you."

One last smile passes between them before Rey too takes her leave, sending wishes into the universe that they will all see each other again one day.