A flurry of bodies and blades clash before the empty temple statue as the servants of the Ren attempt to kill their greatest foe.
Rey fights as a swordswoman whose very heart is ablaze, her saber blade in constant motion. She deflects the vibrocleaver of Trudgen, slicing it in half as he staggers backwards. A touch of her hand and the nudge of the Force send Kuruk to the ground, his body limp as he's forced to sleep, blaster rifle clattering away down the stone steps. One down. A vengeful Cardo draws a blaster pistol and unleashes a flurry of shots at the Jedi, which she furiously deflects at an advancing Vicrul, who screams as the flesh on his arm erupts in sparks. Two down. Cardo is thrown backwards, tumbling down the steps and out of sight. Three down. Rey ducks beneath Trudgen's maddened fists, and stabs him in the shoulder, burning his skin badly. Four down. Ushar's warclub strikes but air, before an explosive charge in it's tip staggers Rey. Before he can follow-up by crushing her skull, she sows her blade beneath his guard, severing the weapon into three pieces before blasting him towards Ap'lek. Five down. Ap'lek takes his brother's hand and tries to pull him up, but he's still dazed. Rey points her lightsaber at Ap'lek, the last Knight standing.
The Knights of Ren outnumber their foe but they are grievously outmatched. Rey's hair is wet with sweat, her eyes darting from one groaning downed warrior to the other as she denies them ground, bullying them away from the statue.
But the dark warriors do not have time to waste. The windows to their right shows the fortress slowly draw closer, the energy that keeps the temple afloat slowly depleting. Rey moves unladen by exhaustion or burden, her breathing deep and calm. She makes her single blade seem like many, and her command of the Force has knocked two of them unconscious. They cannot beat her by brute force. They will have to rely on their cunning.
A crawling Trudgen throws the shredded half of his vibroclever at Rey, who acutely dodges. Ap'lek charges with a yell and swings his executioner's axe in a long arc, aiming to cut Rey's body in two. She's too quick and side steps the curved blade, but Ap'lek is as devious as ever. The path ahead temporarily undefended, he makes a dash for the statue which is metres away, leaving his brothers behind. Rey's reflexes are sharper than ever, and she angles underneath his swing, bringing her saber up to slice the handle of his axe in two, halting his advance.
He tumbles hard into the floor, face first, and his helmet becomes dislodged. Rey ignores the matted long hair that appears, instead grabbing his wrist and forcing his hand open to grab the splintered crystal from his grasp. Without it, they cannot hope to fulfil the prophecy. But it's not there. His broken, maniacal cackle sounds as a sudden rumbling behind her answers the question on her lips.
Rey whirls around to affix her eyes on Ushar, who feigned injury whilst she floored Ap'lek. His brothers beaten and broken, he stands determined, his crude mask showing no emotion as he places the scarlet crystal inside the altar of the statue. His metal hand glows from the heat of the lava inside as the temple accepts it's new power source.
The effect is immediate.
The temple shudders violently. The crystal veins pulse scarlet. The glyphs and patterns decorate the walls now glow, as though vessels of blood. But it's worse. An echoing sound fills Rey's ears, from deep within the temple, and she feels it in the Force too. It is crying out, screaming like a living being whilst it is corrupted. Beneath her, a grounded Ap'lek begins to laugh maniacally. Rey holds him down, her blade pointed at Ushar, who outstretches an ungloved and bleeding hand towards Ap'lek.
"Come, Ap'lek."
Rey forces Ap'lek to the ground, determined not to let him go. This is all wrong, she can't let them, not yet. The temple shudders and screams around her. Ap'lek struggles, his helmet slipping back on and his mechanical voice returning, filled with passionate excitement.
"Soon, all will know their true nature!"
His expressionless helmet gazes up at Rey.
"Soon, the shadow of the Ren will shroud the galaxy!"
Despite Ap'lek words and the desperation of her situation, there is something that keeps Rey's heart ablaze. That keeps her from losing all hope, from letting her strength ebb away. It isn't the Force, that obeys her influence and fills her with energy, it is something far more powerful. Through it, she can see more than the Knights of Ren. Through somebody else's eyes, into a room. And what she sees brings a wide, genuine smile to her dirty and sweaty face.
The room is Rey's personal quarters. Her sleeping mat, her books, her tools. The crystal veins in the stone walls glow red, explosions and blaster fire can be heard faintly in the distance. Rey's net of junk parts is propped up, the remains of BB-8 inside with his small head protruding from the top. Somebody has been working on repairing him. A pair of hands cross wires inside his broken body, and a spark ignites. Suddenly his lights power on, and his eye glows. The damaged droid blinks drously, looking around for Rey, and whistles in surprise at who he sees instead.
"So, you're the droid?" Greets a familiar voice.
BB-8 exclaims a series of beeps, interrogating the stranger.
"She told me about you, some time ago..."
There's a pause as BB-8 swivels his head, utterly confused.
"Will you help me find her?"
"Razor Squadron. Comet Squadron. Can you hear me?"
Finn's ears are ringing as he holds his hands over his head. Poe still shields him with his own body, but Finn can barely make him out from the dust and smoke. Poe yells desperately into his commlink.
"Razor Squadron. Comet Squadron. Deploy, we need you. These cannons are taking us out. We need you!"
Finn can just hear the response, scratchy and distorted.
"We -can't get -close, Poe!"
Captain C'ai of Comet Squadron sounds desperate. "There's too many to get close!"
Poe sinks lower. Whether he's injured or exhausted, Finn doesn't know. He pulls Poe up, leaning both of their back against the wall. The sounds of cannon fire still sound around them. Finn can see Resistance and Stormtroopers alike, either strewn across the battlefield or huddling together, protected from the rain of turret fire like he and Poe. Hux would rather sacrifice his own soldiers than lose them. Finn grits his teeth as a deep hatred for the man festers in his stomach. Jaytu and Rose have dragged and injured Tunine behind an overturned crate, but they are too far away to get to.
Finn keeps searching for help. He squints through the smoke high up to the peak of the far outer wall. Several turret launchers swivelled to fire ion missiles down at them, and outwards at the criss crossing A-Wings and X-Wings of their remaining squadrons, fighting a losing battle to get close. They're trapped. Finn looks beyond the wall, to the ancient temple. But his anger at Hux is replaced with sheer horror. The temple has begun to tip on it's side, the patterns and glyphs adorning its walls pulsing an angry red. Finn doesn't need to reach out with the Force to know that Rey is in danger too. It's too much. Finn can't think straight. He can only hold Poe, and hope. The chatter over fleet comms is unbearable as the fighters desperately try to get close, but it's a losing battle. Finn shuts his eyes.
"-need help here I'm hit-"
"-going down-"
"-I'm close, I'm AAARGH!-"
"-Is that the Falcon? And who-"
Finn's eyes snap open. He looks to Poe who had just heard the same thing, proving Finn isn't deluding himself. Then a voice answers.
"Finn? Are you there?"
Poe is speechless. Finn lifts his commlink to his face, relief breaking across it.
"Leia! We could use some help down here!"
"Yes, I can see that," replies Leia, slightly scornful. "Reinforcements are here."
Finn and Poe look at each other through the smoke, confused. Comet and Razor Squadron still dodge and weave turret fire above them, unable to get close; no visible sign of the distinctive hull of the Millennium Falcon among them.
"You brought reinforcements?"
"They're following my signal, but I did not bring them." There is a hint of satisfaction in Leia's voice. "You did."
Before Finn can question further, a flurry of voices comms over their radio, every Resistance channel. Excited voices, shouting for their moment.
"-is that the Finn?-"
"-we heard what you said about Hu-"
"-stole a ship to be here!-"
"-with you Finn-"
"-name's Sevens, proud to join the Resis-"
"-what she said! Let's bring these cowards-"
Finn can barely believe what he is hearing. Then he notices something more - the roar of hundreds of twin ion engines, the recognizable scream of a fleet of TIE Daggers. Finn stares beyond the peak of the temple into the sky of Othkore, and what he sees will forever become a cherished memory:
The Millennium Falcon - still beat and bruised - shooting towards them, surrounded by so many starfighters they appear as an amorphous swarm. The triangular fins of the TIE Daggers hurtle through the air, their distinct markings showing many from different fleets, garrisons and corners of the galaxy. Next to Finn, Poe stares in utter disbelief, his mouth open.
"I can't believe it. Finn, you did it." Then hysteria takes him, he grabs Finn by the shoulders and cheers into the smokey air. "FINN YOU DID IT!"
Tears come to Finn's eyes as he realises that every single one of these Stormtroopers and pilots are here because they heard him. Across the stars, they heard him.
"-re here to fight for Finn! Never again! Nev-"
"-is he there? What are our orders?-"
"-you better tell them something Finn! I'm not a general anymore-" Says Leia.
"Right!" Finn yells into his commlink, a winning smile across his face as his heart sings. He hesitates. What does he even call them? Suddenly, an old call sign comes to him. It seems appropriate.
"Rogue Squadron! This is Colonel Finn, of the Resistance ground forces! Form up fast and take out those fortress defences, now!"
The new fleet of TIE Daggers respond in unison to Finn in the only respectful way they know:
"YES COLONEL!"
Ushar's prosthetic hand holds the cracked crystal in the statue's open heart, the glowing veins across the floor pulsing like curdling blood. The temple rumbles and groans, a sound akin to screams reverberating through its halls and corridors. His left hand is bare, the cut across his palm dribbling blood. He outstretches it towards Ap'lek, barely six metres away. For when Ap'lek joins bloody hands with Ushar, they will summon the Oracle, and fulfil the prophecy.
Behind Ap'lek, a few of his brothers pull themselves to their feet. Trudgen props himself up on the handle of his slashed weapon. Vicrul's left hand hangs uselessly by his side, but in the other protrudes a curved vibroknife. Kuruk shakes the fog of artificial drowsiness and picks up his blaster rifle. Two sparking bombs flare in Cardo's hands. The four brothers slowly ascend the stairs to the statue, focusing completely on the small stretch of space between Ap'lek and Ushar. Any moment now, the two brothers will seal their bonds in blood and become the prophesied 'Heirs to Victory'.
But between them stands their last and most defining obstacle; Rey. The Jedi's shimmering yellow-green lightsaber blade keeps the slowly advancing warriors at bay. She can feel the flurry of extreme emotions churning inside each one of them. Spite. Excitement. Vengeance. She had seen the same in the eyes of Kylo Ren as he held his hand out to her, Snoke's throne room in flames around him. But her awareness penetrates deeper, to the foundation of each of the Knights of Ren, where she finds something familiar. A cold fear clasping their hearts, keeping this band of nobodies united, but continually divided. A sensation she fought with for as long as she can remember: Loneliness. And from this grows their desire to unleash vengeance upon the galaxy.
"You're wrong." She tells them, simply. "This isn't your true nature."
She realises her eerie kinship with these masked warriors is no coincidence, but there's one vital difference between them. She is more connected, through the Force, through her bonds than they have ever been. They don't just deny the truth, they run from it. Kuruk, Cardo, Trudgen and Vicrul come into view at the base of the stairs. Dust falls from the rumbling walls. Ap'lek, who edges ever closer, hisses at her.
"What do you know of us? Our ways?" His voice cracks with anger. "What I've faced to get here!"
Rey lowers her weapon, and smiles at Ap'lek's expressionless helmet.
"You wear your pain like armour, but it still rules you. Admit you're scared. Admit you're alone. Face it."
Vicrul has heard enough, pointing his gnarled vibrodagger at Rey "Just words, nobody! You dare to question our hon-"
"Oh I dare!" Rey interrupts, affixing Vicrul with a piercing stare. "I followed your rules: I faced my hidden truth. And I haven't let it rule me, define me. I'm moving forward. But you-"
She lifts her lightsaber and points at Ushar behind her, then to the five warriors before her.
"You're just like I was; stuck in place, ashamed of who they are, looking for an easy escape. And you'd throw each other away for that chance."
She points to the red crystal in the heart of the statue, and she isn't just furious at them. She is furious at the Rey who'd run for so long, who'd clutched that doll so close, and pushed everyone away.
"You'd throw the entire galaxy away to escape, but there is no escape! You have to let it in, let it go, only then can you move forward - decide for yourselves!"
Her weapon at her side, she gestures to them with her free and injured hand.
"I see you for what you are. You're not brothers. You're just scared, alone. But no matter what's happened to you, face it, fight it. It's never too late."
And she has done so. For so long Rey has searched for an escape in others, in Han, in Luke, in Ben. She used up every opportunity of escape until she was left with no options but to face her denied past. Now she isn't running away, she can choose what to do with her gifts, her boundless compassion. The Force is with her, assuring her she has chosen well.
"Lies!" Spits Ushar from behind her.
The truth of her words penetrates the harsh exteriors of the Knights of Ren, but they still cling desperately to their fantasy, of a galaxy punished for what it did to them. But Rey has more than just words on her side. She raises her hand, the cut on her palm from calling forth the Oracle still visible, and points beyond the Knights to the entrance of the atrium, opposite them. The presence there fills her with power beyond the Force itself, and she smiles wide.
"See for yourself."
Many of them ignore her obvious distraction, until Ushar looks over her shoulder.
"Impossible..." He mutters.
The Knights of Ren turn to see the truth. Even as her temple screams around her, Rey's heart beats excitedly; she's not alone. In the gloom of the largest entrance to the atrium, the whistles and beeps of familiar droid can be heard. Then, the darkness is evaporated by the appearance of a shimmering blue blade, illuminating the figure who stands there. Ben Solo, bruised and grubby, fills the doorway. His thick cloak, gloves and tunic are gone - replaced by a cloth poncho, belt, and large junk net slung across his back.
The head of BB-8 bobs above his shoulder, his large eye stretching to see. Ben strides out of the doorway towards them, climbing the stairs with ease, Anakin's lightsaber hilt held in his hand. It sputters occasionally, only shoddily repaired, but the blue blade holds. His former followers stare in disbelief, but he has eyes only for Rey. Holding her gaze, he places his free hand behind his back and bows formally. The sarcastic little gesture almost makes Rey laugh, but quite the opposite reaction permeates the Knights of Ren.
"Traitor!" Screams Ap'lek in a fit of rage.
Trudgen and Vicrul are already backing down the stairs, twirling the bladed weapons and preparing to cut their old master in two.
"You can call me 'Ben', Ap'lek." replies Ben, matter-of-factly.
He lifts the lightsaber aloft, and points it up at his former advisor.
"Now get away from Rey."
Over his shoulder, BB-8 ignites his shockprod menacingly, as if to say '...or else.'
But Ben's eyes still haven't left Rey's. He can tell the desperate situation they're in by the state of the grumbling, shuddering temple around him and the presence of Ushar at the temple's heart. They need to stop the Knights of Ren, but how? Isn't the prophecy inevitable? Even with five warriors standing between them, Rey and Ben's connection is stronger than ever. Rey can commune with Ben through their bond but there is no time. She can feel the growing explosion of violence about to break forth from the Knights of Ren, and she lifts her saber above her head, ready.
Ben searches her expression for answers, but she just beams at him. His very presence gives her strength beyond the Force, and she decides it's time. As he watches, she offers her free hand to him, as he once did in the throne room, long ago. But there is no burning vengeance in her eyes. They have both experienced such hardship since then, confronting ugly memories, emerging messy, bruised, but more complete. Ready. And she offers it all to him in one gesture. Her message to him is clear:
Join me.
And Ben's body reacts. It will no longer tolerate being apart from her, and he bolts into danger to take her hand, finally. With a roar, Trudgen and Vicrul thunder down the stairs towards the redeemed Jedi, weapons raised. Ap'lek lifts the remnants of his axe high as Cardo launches a grenade and Kuruk points his rifle, all aiming to kill the Jedi standing between them and galactic destruction. But Rey will die before she lets them fulfil the prophecy. And with Ben here, Rey holds back no longer. The tide has truly turned.
"AAAAARRRRRGGGH!"
The senior command tower rumbles violently, at the mercy to a series of explosions. Grand Admiral Hux's cape floops over his red hair as he is thrown to the floor. He gets to his feet in a fit of rage and points beyond the viewport with a shaking hand.
"QUONIT! BELLAVA! QUINN! ENGELL! EXPLAIN THIS IMMEDIATELY!"
Before any of his remaining generals can answer, the sound of the Millennium Falcon's engines roar above them, followed by the howl of TIE Daggers ripping through the air as they swoop down for another strafing run. The upper turrets protruding atop the outer wall burst into orange flames, incinerated by a torrent of laser fire. Inside the cockpit of the Falcon, Baron Lando Calrissian clasps Chewie and Leia's shoulders.
"Hahahaahaa!" He yells in delight.
The Falcon climbs the skies of Othkore once more, the newly christened Rogue Squadron right on her, ready to swoop down and decimate more defences. Lando shakes Leia in delight.
"Now this is just like old times!"
The bombardment of explosions left in their wake rings around the senior command tower. Grand Admiral Hux teeters like a statue made of glass. He's speechless. So many things he'd been blocking out suddenly hit him all at once. In the distance, the grounded Finalizer smokes. The looming presence of the ancient temple blocks the rays of Othkore's setting sun. The once proud runways and gates of the Final Order Fortress are broken, blasted, smoking, and overcome by the enemy, who fester below like ants. But not just the enemy. Now waves upon waves of Conformity Droids are falling to Resistance and his own Stormtroopers alike, allied in their opposition of his organisation, his army, his success. Hux despises chaos. And right now, he is drowning in it.
But Amritage Hux was patient, he was careful, always had been. And though he has been living so many years in a version of his life where failure is impossible, preparing and achieving the unthinkable is how Hux had got to such a position in the first place. Hux loves his army like he'd loved Starkiller Base and many other weapons, but he will not live to see his magnificence of engineering and manipulation be turned against him.
His bloodshot eyes hover over the advancing throng of Resistance soldiers, blasting their way up the damaged staircases either side of him as legions of his Conformity Droids advance in menacing but depleting lines. His face drains of colour as he realises he has no other choice.
"Prepare the 'Final Contingency', Lieutenant."
Lieutenant Quonit stares at Hux with complete disgust. Though the young man fears for his life, even he does not have the apathetic detachment needed to complete such a command. The three remaining members of senior command look from Hux to Quonit in confusion.
"The 'Final Contingency'?" Repeats General Bellava. "You can't mean..."
Lieutenant Quonit remains frozen, his pale lip trembling. General Engell drops her datapad.
"There… there has to be some other-"
But Hux turns to face them. One of his eyes is bloodshot, loose strands of red hair hang before his eyes as he sweeps from the heightened platform he'd been observing the ground battle from. The pale face, white uniform and maddened expression give him the presence of a crazed ghost. He shoves Lieutenant Quonit to the ground and steps over Admiral Griss' still smoking body, all decorum lost. Without another word, his gloved finger flies over the table's controls and press a large button. He gazes up, his eyes wide and unblinking, and a pacified smile crosses his lips.
Inside and outside the command tower, every single Conformity Droid stops dead in unison. They leer over their enemies, who continue to fire on them outside the command tower and watch in horror within. Slowly their tube-like heads separate in the centre, to reveal concealed circuitry beneath. Without warning, the receptors within the Conformity Droids activate; filling the air with a high-pitched screech. To Final Order officers and Resistance soldiers, it is just a loud noise. But to any of the several hundred Stormtroopers present, the pain is excruciating.
"AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!"
Tunine screams and falls to the ground, covering her ears. Blood seeps from the edges of her eyes and ears and she tries to shake the noise from reverberating inside her skull. Rose catches her before she hits the floor, but soon Jaytu is also slumped against the wall, her eyes shut tight against unimaginable pain. All around them, Resistance soldiers watch as their Stormtrooper allies are tortured before their eyes. Stormtroopers stunned during the course of the battle are suddenly awoken, screaming and twitching in pain. The sonic attack manufactured by Hux simulates the torture so many suffered during Reconditioning, but the goal of this attack is far more than torture.
"Finn!" Yells Poe over the sharp sound. "Finn, buddy, what's happening? Talk to me!"
Poe grabs desperately at Finn as he too collapses. Blood dribbles from his mouth as he sinks to the floor, his blaster clattering away across the stone steps and his eyes rolling upwards. Poe holds his face in his hands as he sees the truth in Finn's eyes; this is killing him.
"RESISTANCE!" Roars Poe over the din. "Advance! Destroy every single droid! Save our allies! Fight for them!"
And they do. Poe, ferocious twins Le and Lo, and a handful of Resistance vanguards raise their blasters and attack the stationary droids, but it's not enough. Their deadly signal reaches far and wide. High above the fortress, the Millennium Falcon and Rogue Squadron prepare to dive back towards their target when some of the TIE Daggers drift from formation, their head's aching and blood sputtering from their noises.
"Rogue Seven!" Leia yells into the Resistance fleet comms, worried. "Pull up! Rogue Five! Rogue Seventeen! What's-"
But none of the Resistance X-Wings and A-Wings pilots can understand why their new allies are suddenly unresponsive, drifting dangerously fast towards the ground as their bodies become unresponsive. Many miles below them, Finn is barely aware of his surroundings, his body feels like a vessel for pain. He is a teenager again, back in that room of his nightmares, back in the Reconditioning unit. His muscles tense hard as the memory of pain shoots through him, again and again. In desperation, Finn uses his pain to reach out in the Force, desperate.
His last hope is that someone will hear him.
Ben hears it first. A relentless chill climbs his back, as though hundreds of voices screaming in pain reverberate through his very bones, and echoes through the halls of the stone he stands in. It washes through the temple in a split second and engulfs Rey, an ice cold wave of psionic energy crashing over her without warning. Even the damaged and barely operating BB-8 finds the faint sonic reverberation disturbing, whining in a low beep-whistle. The two Jedi have but seconds to comprehend what is happening; their allies are on the brink of death. The Knights of Ren move in, their victory so close it's almost inevitable now. Ben grips Anakin's lightsaber and Rey squeezes the hilt of her own as the weight of consequence follows every movement they make; the war is in their hands now.
Ben charges forward, BB-8 shaking back and forth on his back as he, Trudgen and Vicrul engage. Trudgen, expecting the unflinching frenzy of Kylo Ren, lunges with the remaining blade of his vibroclever to overpower the coming ferocity, but he mistakes his enemy. Ben Solo curves his body gracefully beneath the swing of the vibroblade, and strikes it with Anakin's lightsaber. The vibroclever redirects suddenly, forcibly thrown from Trudgen's hands as it lands squarely in Vicrul's undefended flank. Vicrul screams and falls to the ground, the blade clattering away as it leaves a deep gash in his side. The force of Ben's strike unbalances Trudgen, regains footing behind his foe. Trudgen lifts his hands into the air to brutally crush the redeemed Jedi, but he'd forgotten about the tiny droid Ben carries on his back. The droid extends his shock prod and touches Trudgen's helmet, unleashing a torrent of electrical energy into its metal frame. Trudgen's muscles spasm as he's violently electrocuted, eventually dropping to the floor in a smoking heap. Ben watches him fall, and glances at BB-8 with renewed appreciation for his skills.
Ben climbs the stairs three at a time towards Rey, who is keeping Ap'lek, Cardo and Kuruk at bay. Still attached to the statue altar; Ushar outstretches his hand, inches from joining with his brothers and achieving the prophecy, but Rey is gliding between the warriors with parries and sweeping strikes, a duelist in her element. These are no honourable swordsmen, the Knights of Ren are beasts in the skins of warriors. Kuruk yells in exhilaration as he overheats his blaster rifle at the weaving Jedi. Rey allows the bolts to hit nothing but air, then deflects one at the last second as Cardo lifts a bomb over his head. It explodes into flames and disintegrates his hand, causing him to fall backwards in agony. Kuruk is reeling as he is picked up telekinetically by Ben and thrown forwards. He soars through the air where his helmeted head is caught in Rey's hand, who influences the growing fatigue in his mind through the Force. He goes limp just as Ap'lek's axe soars through the air, aiming to sever Rey's hand. The Jedi drops Kuruk to the ground, spinning her body and sweeping her blade upwards. Ap'lek's coarse metal face is suddenly ruptured as the tip of Rey's lightsaber slices his helmet. Ap'lek drops his axe and stumbles, holding his helmet to prevent it from falling apart.
Falling backwards and blinking inside the now useless headgear, Ap'lek struggles to get to his feet but he is beaten, his four brothers laying unconsciousness around him.
Rey keeps her saber aloft, ready, before she registers Ben approaching her. Her battle confidence disappears as she is suddenly unsure how to act around him. Ben reaches the top of the stairs, only metres away. Something similar seems to be going on behind his face as they both lower their lightsabers. But his look of apprehension suddenly turns to dread.
"REY!" He yells.
Rey brings her saber up to defend against what Ben is looking at behind her shoulder, but even she is not that fast. Ushar has wrenched his metal hand from the altar, the crystal still inside, and lunges at her. The sharp metal fingers of his hand glow like hot coals from being exposed to the molten heat of the temple's inner heart. Rey's eyes widen as the glowing orange fingers reach towards her, until she sees nothing but Ben's long hair.
"Raaaaah!"
Ben's scream of pain shoots through her like ice. He's shielded her from Ushar with just his body. Ben falls to the ground, the net holding BB-8 hitting the floor with a loud 'CLANG!' Rey doesn't think. As Ushar lifts his hand for another strike, she steps over Ben's body defensively and places all her strength into a downwards slash. A molten wound appears across Ushar's chest and his momentum is stopped by pain. Rey grips the rusted metal forearm with her free hand and twists her body, yelling as she throws him away from Ben with all her power. Ushar lifts off the ground and arcs through the air, hitting the stairs below hard and tumbling away to join his unconscious brothers. Rey breathes deeply and harshly for a moment, the temple shuddering in pain around her, before extinguishing her lightsaber and turning towards the body on the floor.
"Ben?" She says quietly. "Ben are you-?"
But the icicle of fear that had struck her heart had lied. Ben kneels just below her, panting, fresh blood trickling down his forehead into his eyes, where a fresh cut can be seen. He shakes his head, indicating he is fine. Ben pushes his fringe back across his head, and Rey looks into his face fully. The muscles working underneath seem softer, less sharp. She notices the fresh bruises, and the fading scar across his right side, and the brown eyes that gaze back. Rey crouches over him, eyes wide, hardly able to contain her joy at his presence.
Slowly the pair both rise and Ben extinguishes his blade, BB-8 hovering just over his broad shoulder. Rey searches for the words, where to start, but comes up blank. She recalls the last time they spoke.
"You made it."
She of course isn't just talking about here, now. Ben is unrecognizable from the man who'd offered his hand to her before Snoke's throne, over a year ago. But there's not time for Rey to indulge in every detail, or for Ben to answer. A huge slab of the atrium's ceiling falls, almost crushing Vicrul. The temple is collapsing, tipping sideways as the magnetic field that keeps it afloat slowly dissipates. The signal emanating from the Conformity Droids mixed with the rumbling cry of the collapsing temple harmonize into a song of woeful calamity. Ben teeters on the spot, BB-8 squealing as more rocks fall. The heart of the statue is empty, his old red crystal still clutched in Ushar's hand no doubt, but the prophecy still needs to be stopped.
"Rey," Ben can't help but allow fear to colour his words. "How do we stop it?"
But Rey simply smiles at him, through sweat, grime and blood clinging to her face. She clips her lightsaber to her belt and takes Anakin's from his hand, before matching his anxious gaze with one of determined hope.
"We don't," she answers.
She twists the old silver weapon harshly in her hands, Ben's tenuous repairs strain and the saber hilt unceremoniously snaps in two. Ben stares, a small noise of disgusted shock escaping his throat as he watches Rey hold the broken halves. He hadn't realised his deep sentimental attachment to the family heirloom until now.
"W-Why? Why did you do that?!" He asks, exasperated.
Rey notices his comically stunned look, and gives a short chuckle.
"Somebody once told me; 'work out what you want in this life, and let go of what's holding you back'. I've let go of a lot of things."
Ben raises an eyebrow, knowing his mothers words. Rey interrupts his thoughts by stepping closer. He looks down at her, slightly abashed. She places one of the lightsaber halves into his uninjured hand, the cracked crystal inside exposed. Ben looks from the exposed crystal in his hand to the one in Rey's, realization dawning over him. She then moves to stand before the altar, the statue's molten heart illuminating her face in amber light. Ben realises she is a very different woman from the one who fought beside him in the throne room.
"I know what I want now," she continues, offering her injured hand to him. "If you're ready?"
He looks from the cut on her outstretched hand to the one on his own, and his realisation evolves even further into admiration. Rey has truly seen beyond the sum of their mistakes, and come to an understanding beyond anything he had ever imagined. He runs over the Oracle's prophecy in his head, the feats, the offerings of both their blood, and almost kicks himself for not grasping the Oracle's game before. He's shocked to find himself smiling, beaming at her, and she smiles back, seeing him slowly reach the same understanding. He straightens up.
"I'm ready," he proclaims, rather awkwardly. "Thanks... for waiting."
Her smile is so wide it squishes her cheeks, as if the ordeal they'd been through together was nothing, nothing at all. He takes her hand, and their bond is sealed in blood. Ben walks forward to join her by the altar, in one hand they hold the halves of Anakin's saber, in the other they hold each other. They share one last, tentative look between them before plunging the halves of the saber into the heart of the altar. As harsh warmth of attacks their hands, the couple speak in unison, calling forth the Oracle;
"Zavus Sreacoloe, hayda mus! Hayda mus! Hayda mus!"
The words come from their mouths in a language neither of them recognise. It's not the sharp jargon of the Ren, or the poetic dialect of Rey's ancient texts. It's something more, something new. And it is heard.
The shuddering of the temple subsides. Between them, a velvety smoke appears from the heart of the statue, from the temple itself. It stretches above them to form the semi-circular face and six arms of the Oracle, stretching as if she'd just awoken. Her glassy eyes, many rings of clothing and long arms and fingers appear more beautiful and grandiose than Ben had encountered beneath the labyrinth on Bogar Prax, and she looks down at them with what appears to be delight. She hovers a giant, glittering hand above each of their heads and speaks in her eerie, echoing voice.
"I see you have grown beyond your pain and hidden memory. I shall bestow upon you both the title of Heir to Victory."
Suddenly Rey can barely see as she is engulfed in a bright, blinding light. She can just about see Ben opposite her, squinting against the illumination. The temple stops rumbling and begins to correct it's tipped axis, the floor beneath them becoming level as the light spreads. The veins of the temple pulse with colours - blue, green, red, purple, yellow, orange - and multi-coloured aurora lights dance across the ceiling above them. A noise like bird song begins to erupt from the statue, a high voice reverberating through the ancient temple as it lifts into the air. As Rey gazes at the atmospheric lights on the ceiling, flowers and vegetation sprout from the cracks in the atrium ceiling, fully formed and bursting with bright colours. All around them, green leaves and grass snakes across the dusty stone, weaving up the walls and restricting the still unconscious Knight of Ren. Bright flowers burst into life as the vegetation meets the sunset rays of Othkore still shooting through the window.
Rey feels her feet leave the ground and she wobbles slightly, gripping Ben's hand tightly. He retracts his hand from the statue and holds her down, before floating into the air himself, haloed by light. Rey looks into the statue's heart and sees the azure crystal has reforged itself, the silver pieces of lightsaber hilt melded into the statue's stone.
"Rey, look!"
Ben moves his hand up her arm and touches just beneath her shoulder, where a harsh scar had formed after they'd fought together in Snoke's throne room. It fades before Ben's very eyes. He smiles wide, hardly believing what he is seeing as a mere red mark is all that's left. But Rey is concerned with other things.
"Your scar, Ben! It's-"
She reaches out and touches the side of his face. His scar has faded to almost nothing, a thin line of white, and the cut on his forehead from Ushar's metal fingers has healed completely. BB-8 floats on his back, squealing. Ben touches his healed wounds, incredulous.
"What's happening?"
Rey opens her mouth to answer, but a sensation fills her. Her and Ben consciousness connect, and they can feel beyond the confines of their bodies and even the temple itself. They sense the planet Othkore below, and the pain that emanates from the Final Order Fortress. Ben and Rey can feel every person injured, fighting, holding on as the sonic signal tortures them. But they are one with the Force, the Heirs of Victory. They do not just watch.
Rey and Ben outstretch their hands in unison and invite its energy, guiding and channeling the Force with mastery beyond their years. The ancient temple levitates high above the Final Order Fortress and the wall of coloured light that encloses the couple grows, filling the temple and breaching the peak and base points of the stone octahedron. The multi-coloured light reaches the senior command tower and washes over the Stormtroopers below. Suddenly, the pain and withering state of their minds are gone - the signal affects them no longer. High above them in the sky, TIE Daggers falling without responsive pilots suddenly catch themselves in midair.
"Rogue Squadron! Pull up!" Pleads Leia through their comms.
They do, one by one, forming a haze of ships ready to attack. Many of them apologize profusely, but Lando and Chewie have had enough.
"GRAAGH!" Chewie silences the unnecessary chatter before Lando cuts in. "Right Rogues, follow the Falcon and let's end this!"
The stream of starships sweep below the hovering, glowing ancient temple and descend upon the remaining fortress defences, blasting them to pieces. The Conformity Droids that remain stand stock still, commanded to broadcast a no longer working signal, and are cut down by the combined firepower of Resistance and Stormtroopers alike.
"NOOOOO!" Squeals Hux as he approaches the viewport to watch the fortress fall before his eyes. "IMPOSSIBLE! HOLD THEM! FIGHT THEM! WE MUST NOT-"
But he's distracted by something else. The sound of blaster fire and scuffles inside his own command tower. Hux whirls around to see the faces of countless Stormtroopers of his personal guard, abandoning their helmets and opening fire upon the nearest guard droid.
"NO!" He fumbles for his blaster pistol in panic. "You will ALL be reconditioned! Weakness will not be tolerated I-"
To his right, the blast doors erupt in an explosion that throws him forwards, his pistol spinning away across the floor as smoke fills the room. Hux begins to crawl underneath the chaos, amidst droid arms and legs, bodies, and discarded Stormtrooper helmets. He scrambles towards the back of the room as Resistance soldiers and Stormtroopers overwhelm the blast doors to his left as well. They are being overrun.
"...No," he mumbles as he watches General Engell restrained by Major Snap Wexley, her datapad falling to the ground.
"No, no, no, no, no,-"
Lieutenant Quonit cowers behind a Conformity Droid as It's blasted to pieces. He is restrained, kicking and screaming by a Resistance soldier and helmetless Stormtrooper. Hux ignores him, tugging his cape from getting caught and shuffling away on his hands and knees.
"This…. can't… be happening"
He's almost reached the rear of the senior command tower and then, behind a terminal, there's a hidden passageway, then a tunnel, the his private shuttle, then-
"Grrah!"
Hux chokes as his dirty white cape tugs on his neck, caught. He turns around to wrench it free, but his face falls at what he sees. The last Conformity Droid has fallen, and the noise inside the command tower subsides. Above him, General Poe Dameron stands with his hands on his hips, a look of pure bliss plastered across his face. Next to him, Colonel Finn of the Resistance points a blaster pistol at Hux's pale face. Blood still leaks from his ears and nose, but Finn's heroic smile is more brazen than ever.
"It's over," he says, simply. "You're not goin' anywhere."
Hux lifts his quivering gloved hands high in surrender. The outer walls of the fortress are a smoking mess, blasted considerably by the Resistance fleet that circles above. The large red and black flags, baring the spiked crest of the Final Order, lose their grip and drop from the walls. The Final Order is no more.
As the last of the conformity droids is destroyed by the Resistance allied forces, the signal no longer needs to be interrupted. Rey and Ben, still hovering in a wall of light, withdraw their hands and their sphere of influence shrinks. They slowly drop to the floor, their boots not meeting dusty stone but soft grass. The walls and floor of the temple atrium have been transformed, vegetation of green and flowers of all colours adorning the stone ceiling and floor, small glowing insects flutter through the air. But neither of the two Jedi are interested in their surroundings.
Ben's hand still rests on Rey's shoulder, and hers on his face. The misty vision of the Oracle begins to fade, without so much as a word. Ben and Rey watch her face disappear, the look of warmth on her face reminds Rey of motherly content, or what she imagines that would look like. Now, apart from the groaning and subdued Knight of Ren below them, they are alone. A moment passes before they immediately retract their hands. Rey's cheeks blaze red and Ben's forehead sweats.
"I-uh," Rey begins, no idea where she's going.
Ben pushes his mop of long dark hair back out of his face, trying to regain himself. Now the urgency is gone, he wants nothing more than to just look. He'd promised himself. But his nerves get the better of him. He looks at his injured hand instead, where a broken white scar has formed over the wound. He searches his face and head, but there's no hint of a scar. He shows his hand to her.
"Looks like there's limits to our power."
Rey, cheeks still glowing red, looks down at Ben's hand and then her own. The cut she'd made forms a curve, like a half moon. She frowns.
"I'm not sure it works like that," she offers, clenching her fist. "Guess we'll find out."
Ben nods, a little unsure. Rey studies his face. Even after all that, all he'd gone through, all he'd faced to make things right, Ben is still hesitant. If she hadn't been so happy to see him she could have fought him. Instead, she does something even more intimate.
She steps over and grips his large hand in hers.
Ben jumps slightly, glancing down at her and seeing the glowing red face. And for a moment, before they move forward with their lives, they both simply look. Hungry and satisfied all at the same time. A few moments pass in silence, then BB-8 squeals; that sonic signal has fried his circuits! Both Jedi smirk with laughter, and Rey tugs Ben away from the statue, down the stairs, past his restricted foes towards the door, and the world beyond.
The temple obeys Rey's mental commands as she places one of her palms on the crystal veins, which dance with all kinds of colours. The monolithic structure lowers itself from the air, the bottom point coming to rest on the runway before the smoking, destroyed gates of the Final Order Fortress. The stone moves and morphs, forming a large staircase that ascends to the corridor Ben and Rey stand in. Ben watches in awe as Rey mentally influences the temple's very structure, choosing to ask less questions and simply watch her proficiency with it. Rey is more interested in the colours of vegetation and flora that have grown across the temple's outer wall, vines and flowers decorating the crystal veins and patterns that glow. As they reach the base of the long staircase, Ben notices a crowd coming towards them and a flicker of fear enters his heart.
The Resistance has multiplied. Helmetless Stormtroopers outnumber the green and yellow clad soldiers and pilots as they approach in the ancient temple's shadow. Several black uniformed officers are being pulled along in binders, and near the back Ben can pick out the white uniform of Hux. He can feel plenty of eyes on him and dread fills him. They know who he is, they know what he's done. How can they ever-
But Rey's hand is still warm in his, and she squeezes tight. She won't let him panic, and she won't let him go. In truth, this is just as important a moment in the return of Ben Solo as any, and he'd endured the worst by far. What was meeting the Resistance to climbing out of the pits of Zoh? Secretly, Ben wishes he could take the climb again.
A few steps from the bottom, the couple stop. At the head of the Resistance, several familiar faces come into view. Major Snap Wexley, Colonel Terez, Commanders Connix, Tico, Jaytu, and Tunine. Bruised, burnt, tired, but victorious. And finally, General Poe Dameron and Colonel Finn, who is first to greet them. Finn leaps up the stairs and throws his arms around Rey, who hugs him tight, her smile wide as they laugh.
"Thanks, for coming back for me." He tells her.
Rey beams, and nods. Of course she came back. Then Finn turns to look at Ben and the tension is palpable. Rey and Finn break apart and he approaches Ben, slightly below him on the stairs. Ben's hands hang uselessly by his side, BB-8 still beeping away on his back. Finn stares unblinkingly at him, then raises a hand.
"Looks like you turned traitor too."
Ben stares at him in shock for a moment before taking his hand, robotically. Immediately, Finn pulls him into a hug and thumps his back enthusiastically.
"Ha!" Laughs Finn at Ben's mortified expression. "Welcome to the Resistance, Solo!"
"Th-thanks," says Ben, half relieved and half vexed. As Rey is talking to Poe and the other leaders, directing them into the temple, Ben stands a bit awkwardly when Finn approaches BB-8 and starts cooing at him.
"What happened to you buddy? You're all shaken up?!"
BB-8 answers in a series of excited beeps and whistles, explaining to Finn all that he'd witnessed in the temple atrium, unbeknownst to Ben. Before Ben can realise, three figures approach him.
"You're Ben Solo?" Asks Rose.
Ben breathes in sharply, still not used to the name, but nods curtly.
"Yeah."
Rose takes his hand in hers and squeezes it tight. "What you did was… amazing. Thanks for helping Rey, for helping us."
Ben stutters in shock, utterly bewildered and flattered. Jaytu and Tunine approach too.
"We're traitors too!" Says Jaytu gleefully, pushing her dark curls out of her eyes to examine Ben thoroughly.
"Yeah! No more Stormtroopers, right?" Tunine and Jaytu look at each other, the former scratching her chin.
"I guess that makes you… the 'Supreme Traitor', right?"
The colour drains from Ben's face.
"I…. errr well-"
But Jaytu is already laughing. Tunine pulls Ben's hand from Rose's grasp and lifts it into the air, turning to the gathering crowd of Resistance allies behind them.
"Hey everyone!" She yells. "Let's hear it for Ben Solo, the SUPREME TRAITOR!"
A huge cheer goes up from those gathered, and a chorus of 'Supreme Traitor! Supreme Traitor!' begins going round. Poe can't help but laugh at Ben's face whilst the soldiers cheer enthusiastically for their once enemy. Ben begins to sweat as he struggles with the attention. Somewhere near the back of the soldiers, in binders and a dirty white uniform, a blood vessel explodes in Armitage Hux's eye.
Finn absorbs most of BB-8's story and turns to Rey, who is speaking excitedly with Poe. Finn simply can't understand all that Rey has been through, all the sadness and horror she's experienced in the last few days, and how she overcame all to come here, to save him. Guilt and gratitude build inside Finn as he approaches her, almost trembling. Being a Jedi, Rey can feel Finn's bubbling emotions just before he does, looking over to see his eyes fill with tears. Finn dashes towards both Rey and Poe, pulling them both into a tight hug, the tears finally coming in streams. He holds his words in his throat, so many that they form a painful lump as he sobs. Rey and Poe's hands pull him in and he manages one word, whispering it over and over, so they never forget it.
"Thank-you. Thank-you. Thank-you."
And they are holding him, kissing his face and forehead, hugging him tight. And then Terez grabs Finn in her arms, huge tears dripping from her bright green eyes. Rose wraps her arms around Finn's waist and his hair is ruffled by Jaytu and Tunine. BB-8 and Ben Solo watch together, and a smile creeps across Ben's face. The Resistance takes a moment to breath.
The war is finally over.
The gathering at the steps of the temple doesn't stay quiet for long. Within a few hours, a full victory celebration has broken out inside the ancient temple, leaving the battlefield of Othkore behind.
The Resistance allies are shocked when they re-enter the temple, or in the cases of ex-Stormtroopers, encounter it for the first time. Lush greenery has crept across the stone. Flowers, vines and other tropical fauna decorate the ceilings. In some parts of the temple, great corridors cross above running water, other a slow stream of lava, from sources unknown deep in the temple. The great structure has evolved since becoming a conduit of the Heirs to Victory, their connection changing it beyond its ruined state. The hangar fills with ships and eventually, another hangar is found to house the new fleet of TIE Daggers and other ships. Once the last of the Resistance ships is safely docked, the new pilots and technicians make their way toward the party.
A grand hall near the centre of the ancient temple is alive with noise. Once used for the Resistance to sleep in, now it's brimming with excitement and joy. A fire burns at the centre of the hall and several others around, the smoke filtering up into the high ceiling and sucked away through the temple's filtration system. The ceiling is adorned with large flowers, fruits trees clinging to the walls. Several porgs flutter between their new nests, accustomed to the high verticals as they're similar to the cliffs of Ahch-To. Their beady eyes watch the amber fires below as Stormtroopers, Scout Troopers, Flametroopers, TIE Pilots, Jet Troopers and more discard their armour upon a pyre, cheering. Some do so tentatively, wondering how their lift without the Final Order will unfold. Some do it aggressively, damming all that the Final Order put them through, and some do it doubtfully, fearful of how they will fit into a galaxy so big and unruly.
Included in that anxious category are several hundred children and young teens, rescued from Othkore's Reconditioning Division. In the coming months, they will work with Resistance intelligence to reverse and understand the Reconditioning they've been put through, but for now they sit in lines around the walls as they are clothed and fed. Some have gathered around Rose Tico, another orphan, and she answers their eager questions.
"I used to live on Hays Minor, and I made it this far!" Rose beams at their eager faces.
"I'm sure we'll be able to find your home, whether it be back to your parents or on to something new."
The children grip their blankets around them and stare at Rose Tico in awe. In their eyes and many others, she is a hero of the future. Elsewhere, other Resistance heroes are enjoying the celebrations. Everything from temple spring water, bottles of Corellian Ale, and mugs of Circuit Cider are being pushed into Poe Dameron's hands, the General who led the Resistance to victory, but he has hands for only one thing. He pulls Finn away from a group of eager ex-Stormtroopers to find a corner by the wall. Poe wraps his arms around Finn once more and kisses him, tears of joy run down his stubbly face as Finn laughs, enjoying his exposure to Poe's love. A half rebuilt BB-8 joins them, and Poe pulls them both into an unexpected embrace.
A tall man enters the room, still wearing the dark poncho and belt he'd slung on to travel to the ancient temple via escape pod, hours earlier. Ben had been a little busy in Rey's quarters, making further repairs to BB-8, and was planning on making a quiet entrance. But these things aren't in Ben Solo's control.
"Hey! It's the Supreme Traitor!" Calls out Tunine, noticing Ben at the top of the staircase. "Everyone! It's Ben Solo!"
A thunderous wail of footsteps and shouting follows her words as hundreds of Resistance soldiers and ex-Stormtroopers alike gather around Ben to shake his hand, ask him questions, and introduce themselves, much to his chagrin. Poe and Finn enjoy Ben's awkwardness from afar as his hand is constantly shaked, back patted, and hair ruffled. He has truly become one of the herd in less than a few hours. BB-8 whistles a welcoming tune to the tall Jedi, whom he'd become rather fond of. Ben fights his way through the crowd, stopping before a handsomely dressed man and two toothy looking gunmen. Lo and Le wear the same tattered flightsuits, but Baron Calrissian sports a fine suit of lavish navy, having ditched his coat after the battle of Othkore. But it isn't Lando's clothes that draws Ben's attention, it is the stern look on his face.
"You've… got a lot of guts kid," he tells Ben sharply.
But he can't hold his distinguished manner any longer. He pulls Ben into a tight hug, burying his face into Ben's chest and gripping him tight.
"What kind of uncle am I, to be so ignorant of what happened to you..."
Crystal tears appear at the edges of Lando's eyes. Ben smiles slightly and clasp his Uncle, wondering if it's the sharpness of his perfume. But Lando continues.
"I am so glad you're here, dear boy."
Ben laughs slightly and squeezes the sensitive old pirate.
"Thanks, Uncle Wanwo."
In case his use of his old childspeak doesn't work to raise Lando's spirits, he throws in another.
"You still good for a favour? Off the record… of course."
Lando looks up at him, remembering the promise he'd made on Ben's birthday so many years ago. His booming laughter fills the space, sadness forgotten. Before he can respond, two hairy arms wrap themselves around the pair and squeeze, hard. Ben and Lando lift into the air as Chewie hoists them up, great tears streaming from his hairy face.
"You'll be careful not to break us Chewie!" Lando shouts over the wookie's great wails. But Ben clasps his free hand around the wookie's shoulders, stroking his uncle's fur and whispering in his ear.
"I missed you too. I'm alright. I'm alright."
Several Resistance pilots share drinks among them as they watch the legendary wookie seemingly strangle two men. Small coves are carved into the stone walls of the grand hall, likely meant for observing as steps lead to their elevated positions. Upon a set of these steps stands Rey, who watches Ben enjoy his reunions and Poe and Finn become unable to untangle themselves in their corner. She laughs to herself, but she's not alone.
"Well, look at what you've done."
Luke's voice seems to come from everywhere, but Rey's senses have sharpened. She turns to her left, her lightsaber glinting on her belt as her hair whips around her. She can just make out the silhouette of the bearded Jedi Master standing next to her, looking out onto the crowd.
"You truly did share what you've learned."
Luke's lip begins to tremble, and Rey looks away politely. She watches as Lando walks around with his arm around Ben, shouting of the feats of his nephew to anyone that will listen and Chewie wipes at his damp fur. Luke's breath is sharp as he sobs quietly, but Rey just beams at the scene.
"I did," says Rey, when she feels enough time has passed. "And I'll be doing far more than that."
Luke's sobs break into a throaty laugh, and he glances sideways at her. She grins back, almost chuckling too. Luke and Rey watch as Ben breaks the edge of the crowd, leaving Lando, Chewie and the others behind, marching towards a huddle of people near the back. Leia, R2, 3PO, and several other of the Resistance intelligence officers hurriedly discuss their next moves. Even during celebrations and devoid of her rank, Leia is still working, still dedicated to passing over all she knows to those that can help. For a moment she doesn't notice Ben's approach, but then she senses him there. She turns slowly to finally look upon her son's face again. His scar has faded, and he looks healthier, less pale. A damp stain lingers on his shoulder, wookie tears no doubt. Ben tries to speak, but he only manages;
"Mom,-"
-before Leia embraces him, crying tears of joy. Finally, her son is home, he's safe. They both sink to their knees, away from the prying eyes of the ongoing celebration. The only one who watches is Rey. Leia lifts her head, and outstretches a hand to the lone Jedi, a warm smile across her face. Rey descends the stairs and takes her hand. Leia squeezes, not letting her eyes move from Rey's own.
"Thank-you."
Leia says it so only Rey can hear. Rey nods, their pact fulfilled. Ben straightens up suddenly, brushing tears from his eyes. Rey retreats slightly, content to watch whilst others enjoy themselves. Before she can succeed, a voice sounds over the din reverberating round the hall.
"Rey! Where's Rey!?"
Finn's voice is loud and clear, the sounds of BB-8's whistling beeps following on. Rey looks suddenly alarmed.
"Has anybody seen her? Where's the Jedi!"
Apprehension fills Rey as she twists her head, searching for an escape. But Ben spots her behavior, grinning as an idea forms in his head.
"Ben!" Rey hisses. "Ben, no!"
But Ben's Solo's grin is as wide as his shoulders, of which he ducks under Rey and hoists her upon. Rey sways from side to side, grabbing his scarred left hand to steady herself. She raps her knuckles against his head in mock anger.
"BEN SOLO! Put me DOWN!"
But Ben is smiling and laughing at her, and her faux frustration rings hollow as she is laughing too. Ben lifts her high into the air and calls out.
"She's here, Finn! The Heir to Victory is here!"
Ben stumbles forward, carrying Rey into the crowd. Finn, Poe, Rose, and a handful of others search through the gathering of people for their friend. When they turn to see her swaying, holding on to Ben's hands for dear life, the sight fills Finn with childish exhilaration.
"Hey everyone!" He yells, pointing to Rey. "Let's hear it for the hero of the Resistance!"
All heads turn to Rey, and faces light up at the sight of her. So many of them clamber forward, drowning Ben in an effort to get close to her, clasping her hand, or just content with being near her. The Jedi of the Resistance, Hero of the Battle of Othkore, the Heir to Victory. Finn starts a chant that quickly picks up;
"REY! REY! REY! REY! REY! REY! REY! REY! REY! REY! REY!"
And something hits Rey, deep down. It might be Finn's enthusiasm, a crisp reward from the impossible battle she'd led to save him. It might be Ben's deep laugh as he bounces her on his shoulders. It might be the flushed faces of Rose, Jaytu, and Tunine as they sing into the clash of voices, or the twinkle of a spectre across the room as Luke stands next to Leia, watching the celebrations together. And it might be the fact that the name she'd given herself, all those years ago, is now being yelled by the legendary Resistance in celebration of her victory. It is all of these things, or simply the fact that she is surrounded by love, or both.
But right now, Rey from Jakku cannot help but smile.