Author's Note: Hey! It's been toooo long but I'm back! I really want to finish this story the way I had originally planned so... here we go. Pls comment/review! Thanks!=D
Chapter 25: Into the Belly of the Beast
Ben managed to complete his task quicker than he had anticipated, healing his crystal to a bright yellow color. His outer casing was very similar to his old one, as it was only slightly modified from it's previous design.
He had gone to bed at a reasonable hour, making absolutely sure to wake him and Rey up at dawn.
He had dressed in his all black First Order outfit so as to be sure to look the part for their mission. Afterwards, he went to wake up Finn if he wasn't already awake. He really hoped that he was, so that he wouldn't startle him with his old 'Kylo Ren' attire.
Rey had dressed in her brown pants, boots and green tunic. She pulled her hair up in her signature three bun look, and tucked away her necklace and engagement ring safely in her and Ben's dresser.
She strapped her light saber onto her right thigh and pulled on her brown cloak in order to hide it. She gathered two comlinks for her and Ben, setting them on the same station. Finn still had his with him, she would do the same to his when he arrived on the ship.
Within minutes, Ben and Finn entered the ship. Ben immediately went to the pilot chair and begun firing up the engine. Finn got settled in a chair looking apprehensive.
"Is everybody ready for take off?" Ben asked the pair, turning around to look at them from his chair.
"Almost, I just need to contact out X-Wing support and let them know it's game time." Finn replied still looking pale. He took out his comlink, "Finn to Poe, requesting our fire support, over"
Ben's eyes widened, "Really? Dameron is our fire support?" He asked in angry disbelief.
Finn and Rey sighed simultaneously. Finn replied, "Yeah, he is. Leia only wanted to spare one X-Wing to keep things covert and easy to hide from the Order. Poe was the first one to volunteer. He wants to make sure me and Rey make it out of this alive, sorry he doesn't feel the same about you."
Rolling his eyes Finn continued, "It's not like he's going to sabotage our mission so that you don't make it out. He knows that Rey would kill him...slowly too I'd bet." He glanced at Rey to see her response.
Rey nodded in agreement to his statement. "I made it completely clear to him how serious I am about our relationship, when I spoke to him."
Ben made an accepting but unpleasant face. "Very well, but I don't plan on speaking to him."
Rey and Finn rolled their eyes at Ben. Suddenly Poe's voice came out of the comlink.
"Hey buddy! Good to hear from ya. Are you about ready for me to get into my position? I'm already headed towards my X-Wing with BB-8."
Finn couldn't help but smile at Poe's enthusiasm, it helped to calm his nerves. "Yeah we are about to be in our position. Do you have your coordinates I gave Leia?"
"Yup, we're all ready here, just comm me when you're ready for fire support. Over and out."
Ben piloted the ship into the sky heading out of the planet's orbit. Once outside of it, he set it into hyperspace towards the First Order's Flagship.
They arrived within a few minutes. Ben sent a special pass-code to the Flagship, in order to gain permission to board. Everyone held their breath waiting to see if it would work. A voice told them they had permission to board and also said, "Welcome back Supreme Leader."
Ben looked embarrassed, muttering how he couldn't wait to live without any titles.
Ben landed their ship and turned to Finn and Rey. "Okay, Finn wait here with your blaster ready. Have it set to stun in case some troopers enter to investigate the ship. They shouldn't if they still believe me to be their leader. Be ready to take us out of here the second we get back."
Turning to Rey, "I'm sorry Sweetheart but you know what we have to do now." His expression was miserable, he really wished that he didn't have to treat his love like a prisoner.
"Ben, it's okay. I know that this is all just an act so that we can win. I'm going to do my best to play the part, so I expect you to do the same. Don't you dare give me special treatment, I'm your prisoner as of right now." Don't forget we can communicate through our bond.
He nodded handing her the comlink to hide beneath her cloak. Then she placed her hands together in front of her and allowed him to tie them together. Ben put on his fixed helmet, glad that he had it to hide his expression and alter his voice, as they were bound to give away his true intentions.
They exited the ship, Ben walking slightly behind Rey. They were met by General Hux himself and six stormtroopers surrounding him. Rey refused to look at him.
"Ahh, Supreme Leader. We're so glad you've finally come back to us." Hux remarked. "Is this what you have been up to for the past five days?" He eyed Rey with a jeering look.
"As a matter of fact it is. I knew where this scavenger was hiding and took it upon myself to bring her in." Ben remarked.
"Well, I don't see why it took you so long to do so, and why you needed to go by yourself." Hux questioned.
"She murdered our ex-Supreme Leader may I remind you. It was a delicate mission and needed to be executed precisely. Just accept that there are things that you can't understand, General." Ben stated feeling terrible for having to fill this role that no longer suited him. He couldn't wait to get this mission over with.
Hux looked taken aback but was silenced. By now a stormtrooper had arrived with metal binders to replace the ropes on Rey's hands. They walked to the prisoner cells in the following order; two troopers in front, Hux, then Ben and Rey, followed by four troopers.
Rey was placed in a cell, then her binders were removed. Ben called for a meeting with the First Order's High Command. Hux was leading him to the board room where the meeting would take place.
Before getting out of range Ben spoke to Rey through their bond. I'm going to meet with the High Command now Sweetheart. I'll poison them and kill those who don't succumb to it. I'll immediately come for you afterwards.
Okay, be careful Ben. I'll be meditating until you return so don't worry about me. I love you, please come back to me.
Ben arrived into the board room seeing all members present except for the knights of Ren. They served as a special task force more so than military leaders. "Where are the knights of Ren?" Ben asked the room.
The supreme council looked around to see if anyone had an answer. Hux spoke up, "They requested permission to resume their own mission, they said it was given to them by Snoke. You weren't here so I accepted their request, the info you need is here in this holoprojector."
He gave it to Ben and afterwards Ben felt a rush of fury. He could not believe that this worm would be so bold as to give a command in his absence. He force-chocked Hux until he was red in the face, sputtering, with his veins protruding out.
"You have not been authorized to be accepting mission requests General. You were given orders when I left to only keep business as usual until my return. Your insubordination will not go unpunished." Ben finally released his hold on him.
"There is a reason that I called this meeting so suddenly." Ben began. "The rebel who killed our ex-Supreme Leader has been captured. As you all already know, she has become the new symbol of hope for the rebels. Therefore, her execution will lead to their downfall. I will personally plan out this affair and it will broadcast on every planet possible. First, we all deserve a toast in celebration. Excuse me for a moment."
Ben had already ordered a trooper to bring the appropriate amount of alcoholic drinks and a bucket of ice. The trooper was waiting for further instruction in a small room next to the board room. Ben entered, telling him that he was dismissed, then mind-tricked him into forgetting their entire encounter.
Ben took out a large vial of clear poison from his pocket. He poured the same amount in every cup but one. The one without poison was his, and he had to make sure to remember which one it was. He dropped a single ice cube into it to mark it. He brought the tray of drinks into the board room and the bucket of ice for whoever wanted some.
"This is the finest Corellian whiskey that money can buy! If you usually refrain from drinking, please just do so this once. For your Supreme Leader and in memory of our old one." He finished passing out the drinks now and raised his glass in the air.
Hands with glasses raised all around the board room table. Ben looked into his glass and upon seeing his one ice cube, downed it in one gulp. Everyone soon followed his example and downed theirs as well. Everyone except a certain ginger General.
This did not slip past Ben, who immediately took notice of what Hux was doing during the toast. He had been sitting quietly in the back corner, staring daggers at Ben like usual, but with particular malice this time. Conversation had resumed around the room in a quiet and respectful manner.
Ben knew that it was only a matter of time, before the effects of the poison would start working on some of it's victims. Once that started, Hux was sure to catch on and know that Kylo Ren had indeed betrayed the First Order.
He knew that Hux would immediately give orders to harm or kill Rey, just to get one final dig at him. He wasn't bound to let that happen. Ben would need to murder Hux...possibly while some members of the High Command were still in the process of dying around them.
Ben quickly surveyed the room, for things to use to his advantage in a fight. As soon as he did, someone nearby began coughing, then breathing raggedly. Hux's and Ben's eyes flew to the individual in scrutiny, both were examining for clues.
Suddenly, the conversation became a slur of complaints, filling the room and growing more urgent by the minute. People were collapsing out of their chairs to the floor and not getting up. Hux rose out of his seat and reached into his jacket for what Ben assumed was a weapon. That's as far as he managed to get before Ben froze him with the force.
Ben pulled his saber to him with the force, ignited it and charged at the general. Hux was unfrozen just as Ben had reached him. The spry man managed to barely avoid the attack, just as Ben's yellow saber sliced, the chair Hux had been sitting in, in half.
Hux had pulled out his blaster and shot three times, before it was yanked out of his hand with Ben's force power. Ben had been hit by one of the shots in the leg, but now wasn't the time to tend to his wound.
Ben strode towards Hux, (albeit a bit wobbly due to his leg), towering above him and in position to deliver the final strike. Hux snarled up at him, looking much like the 'rabid cur' Snoke had once described the man to be. Ben could see it clearly now.
Ben raised his saber high and then brought it crashing down upon Hux's shoulder, slicing him across through the middle. A blood-curdling scream filled the room, mixed with the smell of burnt flesh and blood.
Ben quickly checked the pulses of each member of the High Command, to make absolutely certain that they were dead. He had purposefully saved Hux for last. He wanted this man to be dead, more so than any other person.
After confirming that his job had been a success and that there were no witnesses, Ben ran off in the direction of the prison cells. He was going to bust out Rey.