Author's Note: Ta da! Update! The end is nigh...(insert evil laughter here)

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. Never have, never will. I simply play in their world.

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"Love is a word much too soft

and used far too often

to ever describe the fierce,

infinite and blazing agony that

I feel in my heart for you."

-Beau Taplin

Ben

I'm impressed. I never imagined Luke's X-wing would be in this great shape after being submerged for ten years.

I suppose rebel technology was made to endure. Something to consider if I make it out of this war alive.

A flutter in my pulse, my heart skips a beat and I take in a sharp breath.

Rey again. She's nervous about something and it's flowing through our bond. I'm uncertain as to why I can feel her clearer now despite the distance but I'm not complaining.

The day I no longer look for her in the back of my mind is the day I die.

I flip switches and prepare to make my jump. I don't have the wayfinder anymore so this is going to be far more hazardous than my previous runs.

But I've made it twice now. I should be able to compensate for my lack of a direct route.

Maybe.

Time to see if the Force, and fate, is still on my side.

The engines primed and I'm ready as I'll ever be. The Wing shudders as I lift away from the island.

Such a lonely, desolate place. Not somewhere I want to live for a significant amount of time. I'll return once more to collect the books and then forget this place.

Nothing but ghosts and pain there.

I don't bother to look back as I cut through the sky. I'm only looking forward now.

Hold on Rey, I'm coming. Don't do anything reckless without me.

My travel through lightspeed seems endless and impatience is getting the better of me. I'm worried about Rey.

I know her all too well. She's not going to regroup with the Resistance. She's going to tackle Palpatine by herself.

I admire her courage but I also want to shake some sense into her. I swear when I find her again we're going to have a long discussion about her impulse to jump first without thinking.

Static crackling over my comm and trepidation runs an icy breath down my spine.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Bitter, hate-filled words spoken in ancient Sith filter through the static and my knuckles turn white as I clamp down on the controls.

"Your Resistance cannot stand against us. The Sith are eternal and will rule for a thousand years and more. All worlds surrender or be destroyed. The Final Order begins now."

So Palpatine's chosen to finally reveal himself. He wasn't suppose to do that until after I killed Rey and ascended the Sith throne.

It appears he's moved up his timetable in the wake of my defection. I knew I wouldn't be able to hide it forever but I had hoped for a bit more time.

No matter. What's done is done and I will deal with the consequences when I reach Exegol.

Ben I wish you were here.

Sunlight in my blood. A single, lush note of a midnight bloom teasing my senses.

Trepidation gives way to unquenchable longing at her fleeting touch.

I'm coming Rey. Don't give up on me now!

I check my readout but I'm thirty minutes away before I reach the border separating the Outer Rim from the Unknown.

Too long.

A tremble along the bond, nothing more than a ghost of a touch as if the wind brushed my lips.

Time to go my love. Maybe fate will be kinder to us in our next life. Don't forget me.

I slam my fist against the control panel as she fades to nothing more than a distant light in my soul.

She heard the message and she's making the run.

If only she waited just a little longer we could have made the jump together.

"To hell with our next life, we make our own fate. I'm going to live this life with you."

I've come too far to lose her now.

Static bursting over my comm again and I wonder what the emperor is up to now. Surely nothing good.

"This is Pattros...they've destroyed Kijimi! A new type of Star Destroyer I've never seen...the entire planet...it's gone..."

Not Palpatine and certainly not the First Order. No military officer would have such horror evident in his voice.

I'm in a rebel ship. It must be the Resistance.

"This is Lega...I can also...confirm report. Kijimi is gone. I repeat, Kijimi is gone. General what do we do?"

General...is this fighter calling for my mother?

I can barely breathe wondering if I will hear her voice over the comm and I flip a few more dials to clear up the static.

"Don't lose your nerve just yet Fossang." Disappointment clenches iron bands around my lungs as Dameron's voice cuts over the comm, "You either Navesh. Picking up subspace markers throughout the Unknown leading a path straight for Exegol."

Rey.

She's found a way to lead the others, and myself, to Exegol without getting caught in the pitfalls.

I've never been more in love with her brilliant mind as I am now.

"General I hate to be the devil's advocate but what if this is a trap?"

Not Dameron but the first fighter, Navesh.

"Yeah, we're aware. The markers are coming from a TIE we know belongs to Kylo Ren. Definitely a trap."

Damn.

Now is not the time for Dameron to be cautious. Not with Palpatine ready to unleash the Sith Armada in a matter of hours.

Pryde has already shown his true allegiance.

Kijimi is only the beginning, a mere demonstration in order to force the subjugation of the more problematic planets that will undoubtedly arise.

Naboo. Mandalore. Corellia.

At least a half dozen scattered in the Outer Rim who will not simply bow their heads in defeat.

Rebels are tenacious if nothing else.

I'm nearly to the drop point where I'll begin my own run to Exegol.

"General what are your orders? You know we'll follow you into hell, just say the word."

The woman Fossang. It would seem my Rey has found other women just as strong willed.

Not surprising considering how long my mother has lead the rebellion.

Static over the comm as I come out of lightspeed.

The Star Destroyer Invictus in my view and I snarl as I dodge gunfire.

I drop below their belly and take out the lower cannons.

I don't have time for this.

"General, reading a single fighter at the border...but this is impossible! The X-wing...it's a Rogue! Luke Skywalker's ship!"

"What!"

Dameron's voice clamoring in my cockpit as I roll and avoid another volley of shots. I'm too quick and they're going to be sending out TIE fighters any moment.

Time to get the hell out of here.

"Pilot identify yourself now."

I swallow hard, my hands shaking as my mother's voice cuts into my concentration.

She's alive but I can hear the strain, the toll this war has taken on her.

She's not going to survive much longer.

Grief slams into me, the bitter knowledge that I'm going to lose her before I have the chance to make amends.

I make a choice and flip the comm switch to an open channel.

"This is Ben, General Solo. I'm going after Rey and I'm taking the trail she left for us to follow."

I flip the comm off before she can respond and jump back into lightspeed, heading for Exegol.

I shove my impending grief deep into the recesses of my mind. I cannot afford the distraction.

I've done all I can for my mother and her Resistance. Whether they choose to follow will be on them.

Now it's Rey who needs me the most.

"Damn it!"

I just barely miss sinking into a gravity well as I tuck and roll. Even with the markers seeded this run is same hellish nightmare from before.

No time to hesitate or second-guess myself.

There is a tightness in the back of throat, a feeling of creeping dread building in my mind and I can sense her.

The kiss of her anger, icy wings of panic beating inside my skull.

Ben...

My name nothing more than a faint whisper in the Force bringing to me her anguish and fear.

I can taste her desperation.

I dodge a magnetic field as my warning alarms shift into red. I'm pushing this Wing to its limits and I don't care.

All that matters is getting to Rey.

I send her my love and my strength through the Force, willing her to be strong.

Hold on Rey, I'm coming.

Left, right and right again. I climb to avoid dark matter and drop low to realign my course.

Alarms continue to sound and I shut them off.

A spike in my pulse, bile in the back of my throat as horror washes through me.

Something has terrified Rey and it's rebounding into me.

Only one person could affect her this badly.

Palpatine.

I'm nearly there. I just pray she can hold out a little longer.

I know what it's like to be trapped in a nightmare.

She saved me and now I'm going to return the favor.

I drop out of lightspeed as Exegol ghosts out of the void, pinpricks of lightning visible from space.

I dive through the atmosphere and make my run through the Star Destroyers. I am well aware they cannot open fire without hitting each other.

Dameron is going to have to take out the control tower if he wants to stop them from leaving this place and destroying the galaxy.

I guess we'll see if my mother's protegee is up to the task. Let's hope for all our sakes his boasting is good for more than just show.

The entrance to the Citadel rises before me and I see my TIE on the edge of the cliff.

I cut the power and land next to it just as lightning crawls along the surface.

Still up to his petty tricks. I thought he would have learned his lesson by now.

Obviously I need to beat it into him.

I jump out of the Wing and wince, muscles shaking as my feet touch solid ground. My previous fight has taken its toll and I'm not fully recovered.

I don't care.

I can feel her terror like razors cutting into my soul bleeding her pain into me.

Ben...oh Ben...

Palpatine is tormenting her. Playing mind-games to weaken her resolve.

Feeding on her despair like a parasite.

I reach for her, the spark of her light I carry within me and touch the darkness smothering her mind.

Lightning dances inches from where I stand and I snarl, turning it away.

I've had enough of his parlor tricks. He's not the only one who can control lightning.

Rey. I'm here. You're not alone.

I shove the darkness out of her mind as lightning arcs above my head, a deadly strike waiting to take my life.

I snap my hand out as the bolt hits and grit my teeth as the power drives me to my knee's.

The stench of burning ozone and my skin heats up. I can't hold it forever and I have no intention of doing so.

"Enough!"

I turn, pivoting and redirect the lightning at the nearest Star Destroyer.

It explodes on impact, the scream of metal as fire engulfs the sky.

My path is clear and I dive for the opening before Palpatine can strike back.

The platform is gone, just an open chasm waiting to swallow me whole.

I slam into rusted chain controlling the lift.

Blood dripping from my lip and I take in a shuddering breath, my left side on fire.

I've either torn the muscle or fractured a rib.

Either way it hurts like a bitch.

"Ow."

I spit blood from my mouth and begin climbing down.

My physical pain is nothing compared to the anguish I feel from Rey.

Her despair like a slow-moving poison in my blood.

I drop to the ground just as agony slams into me.

Pain!

Rey is being tortured and my temper snaps and I'm done being cautious.

Red haze across my vision as a guard turns the corner, his blaster leveled at my chest.

Rey! Hold on!

I wrap the Force around him, slamming his body into rocks as I grab his fallen blaster and run for the cavern where I know Palpatine is keeping her.

He doesn't want her dead. He wants her spirit broken and pliable to his will.

He still needs a puppet for his throne.

Another presence behind me and I don't stop but lift the blaster across my shoulder and fire.

A ragged scream and the sound of a body hitting the ground.

I keep going.

Two more guards drop as I race towards my destination.

Fire licking in my blood, the howl of darkness in my soul.

I stop, dust kicking up around me as I breathe through the madness.

The power of the dark side is trying to consume Rey as her temper overrides everything else.

She's fighting him but in this place it will destroy her.

I close my eyes and reach for her.

I don't listen to the madness or whispers of retribution. The hate trying to fill the empty void she's carried since childhood.

This isn't who she is.

Don't listen to him Rey.

I speak to my Rey. To the woman who laughed and teased me, taught me how to love again.

Who told me she wanted to be my wife.

Ben?

The madness recedes as she calls my name with gentle hesitation, an ache of love I feel down to the marrow of my bones.

There she is. This is my Rey.

But I've run out of time and break the link before I can answer.

Before Palpatine can figure out our secret.

The Knights of Ren have stepped onto the killing field and I am without a saber.

This may prove slightly problematic.