Leia's saber knocked against Rey's leg as they followed Trusk through the blast doors and onto the bridge. The officers tapping away at the stations lining either side of the walkway looked up with unconcealed interest at their arrival.

"Mind your work," Trusk said sharply, and most of them ducked their heads, but Rey still caught one or two curious glances as they marched by. A frisson of energy passed through her when she happened to lock gazes with one of the women, and saw in her eyes not the hatred or resentment she'd expected, but a sort of nervous fascination that resembled something along the lines of hope.

Her thoughts were racing as she pulled her gaze away and focused her attention on the wide, polished-to-perfection window at the front of the bridge, where the stars waited. The stormtroopers that had accompanied them filed off to either side, forming rows of stark white helmets thrown in high contrast against the black beyond. Rey searched the sky as her thoughts sped towards their finish line. The truth was, she didn't know anything about these people-not the First Order as an entity, she knew more about them than she'd prefer-but the men and women who operated their technology, carried out their orders, piloted and repaired their ships, cooked meals in the mess hall, or patched up the wounded when they returned from battle. How many of them truly espoused the ideology of the overlords they served, overlords who would gladly sacrifice them at any given moment, if that's what it took? How many of them had even joined the Order willingly? Finn and Ben had taught her, each in their own way, how a person could be coerced, misled, twisted into something they had never agreed or expected to become. While it didn't absolve them of their sins, necessarily, it cast illumination on the paths that lay before them-paths that could lead them out of the darkness. Rey wondered how many people on this Star Destroyer would take those paths if they were given the choice.

Her train of thought was derailed by the sound of Trusk's voice, barking out orders. She and Ben were shuffled closer together, backs facing the glass, as Trusk prepared to send a transmission via hologram, with his captives as a backdrop.

"Broadcast on all First Order frequencies," he instructed the officer who was helming communications. "Cast as wide of a net as you can. I want all of those who remain to know that we stand undefeated."

"Should I send it to the Resistance base as well, sir?" the officer asked. Tusk hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing the risks and rewards of lording his catch over the enemy.

"No," he said finally, with some reluctance. "Best we don't bring their wrath down upon us just yet."

The officer nodded, pressed a few buttons, and signaled to Trusk that he was good to go. Trusk straightened, tugged at his belt uselessly, and began his puffed-up spiel.

"My friends," he said. "My fellow survivors. Whether you escaped the battle or have been manning our outposts throughout the galaxy, by now you will have heard of the unfortunate setback we experienced at the hands of the Resistance usurpers. It is understandable to feel daunted. But I am here to inform you that the First Order remains unbroken. In fact, the key to our imminent victory and resurgence has just wandered willingly into my lap."

Ben's voice crept into Rey's mind. Ready to show him what exactly wandered into his lap?

Rey paused, glancing over once more to the woman with whom she'd made eye contact earlier. Her expression was stony, but she met Rey's gaze with confidence, and gave her a nearly imperceptible nod.

You know I am, Rey thought back.

"These valuable prisoners will become symbols of our triumph," Trusk was saying when Ben and Rey opened their palms and summoned their sabers to them, the double snap-hiss of their coordinated ignition the sound of Trusk's so-called triumph dying a swift and timely death. Before anyone could react, they had angled their bodies towards each other and sliced their handcuffs off in two efficient strokes.

Rey savored the look of horror on Trusk's face as he turned to see her dropping down to one knee and swinging her lightsaber low, scoring him across the shins. With a howl of pain for all the remnants of the First Order to hear, he crumpled, and the rest of the bridge exploded into chaos.

The stormtroopers rushed them from both sides, but they didn't stand a chance against the skill and fury of Rey and Ben combined. Trusk had scoffed at the concept of the dyad they formed together, but there was no longer any doubt in Rey's mind that the two of them were inextricably bound. They fought as a unit, each one a reflection of the other, anticipating every movement and reacting in perfect concert. Much like the time they'd fought Snoke and his bodyguards in the throne room, their teamwork was impeccable, seamless, blocking the blasts and felling the onslaught of stormtroopers in a graceful, deadly dance. Alarms screamed overhead, and Rey was keenly aware that the spectacle was being transmitted live to the corners of the galaxy-and she was glad of it.

The blaster fire from the last stormtrooper on her side ricocheted off her lightsaber and struck him squarely in the chest. She stretched out her free hand as he collapsed and his gun flew into her waiting fist. She pivoted towards the female officer with whom she'd been silently communicating; the woman was standing at her station, frantically pounding away at the console like she was on an urgent mission.

"Heads up!" Rey shouted, and when the woman looked up, tossed the blaster in her direction. The officer caught it deftly enough, nodded, and turned just in time to open fire on the fresh round of reinforcements stampeding onto the bridge. Her fellow officers followed suit as quickly as they could, scrambling to gather the weapons of the fallen stormtroopers as more arrived. The soldiers didn't hesitate to turn their blasters on their own people. They were trained to crush rebellions, no matter where they arose.

Rey and Ben exchanged a glance before launching themselves into the fray. They made short work of the stormtroopers, but judging from the ongoing blare of the alarm, their reprieve wouldn't last long.

Rey startled when someone moved towards her, but she relaxed when she saw her unexpected ally climbing up onto the walkway. The woman's face was flushed and a little frantic, but she smiled at Rey, or tried to - it was clearly not an expression she was in the habit of making.

"I was able to open the cells where your friends were being held," she said breathlessly. Her hands were trembling as she clutched the blaster Rey'd given her. "It looked like they were making for the hangar."

"An exhale of relief escaped Rey's lungs. "Wow, that's-thank you."

"No." The woman shook her head emphatically. "Thank you. I wish there was a way I could repay you for-" her eyes flicked to Ben, standing at Rey's shoulder "-for showing us that we all have a chance. That we're worth saving."

Rey reached out and gripped her by the arm. "You are worth every effort," she said firmly. "The best way you could return the favor is to live the life you want, free from all of this."

The woman's eyes reflected the light that streamed through the window Rey had opened for her. "Thank you," she repeated. "Both of you. We'll do our best. If we succeed here, you won't have to worry about this ship ever again. Now go-go!"

She shook Rey's hand from her wrist and urged them towards the door. Rey nodded, grabbing Ben's hand before leading him across the threshold into the hallway, but she glanced back over her shoulder as the blast doors eased shut behind them. Bittersweet memory and pride mingled in her heart at the shrinking sight of the new resistance taking its first steps on the bridge of the Star Destroyer. Then she turned away, Ben's hand an anchor in hers, and together they moved forward down their own path.