Chapter 1 Shield
Rey took in a deep breath as she held on to the gunners. As the Falcon began to make it's way to the planet Crait. It was a barren planet that was for sure as she looked to the ground covered in some type of white substance. But it only took a second to see the First Order ahead. As the Falcon flew past what looked like small flat mountain tops she then could see the Resistance fighters in some very old fighters heading towards the First Order of AT-ATs. She knew they were sitting ducks as the First Order took aim and fired. Out from the AT-ATs TIE-Fighters emerged and now it was time to help what was left of the Resistance. The Falcon dove towards the small battle and Rey fired at the First Order.
"Rey! We need to get them to follow us!" Ben spoke through the earpieces as he was in the cockpit with Chewy. Ben moved the controls upwards and then Chewy let out a bark to Ben.
"Yes! I Know I haven't flown this in a long time!" Ben replied to Chewy and then something else screeched and Ben looked to the dashboard seeing some bird looking thing. "And what the hell is this?" Chewy gave out some softer barks and Ben cocked his eyebrows. "Por…Prog?" Then the Falcon rocked a little.
"They're following us!" Rey informed them over the earpieces. Ben and Chewy refocused to flying as the Falcon shook again.
"They really hate this ship." Ben whispered as he flew leading the TIE-Fighters away giving the Resistance fighters some chance at this. Ben then flew into the small tunnels of the mountains. While the Falcon looks bulky and just like this giant clunker of a ship, she does have where it counts and she can fit in tight spaces. Ben steered the Falcon effortless while Rey managed the gunner but she was going to need help. Ben got up leaving Chewy and the strange looking bird thing to fly. Ben ran through the Falcon and memories came back but there was no time for that. He found the entrance to the guns and jumped down. He got into the chair and turned on the guns and the old red screen flipped on. He grabbed the handles and began to fire.
"How many?" Ben asked as he took another one out.
"Not sure." Rey replied as she fired down another TIE-Fighter. But then they both noticed that Chewy was flying to a really tight space and they could no longer fire as the guns couldn't move.
"Chewy!" Both yelled knowing they might not fit much longer. The Falcon then raced out of the small space and Ben and Rey looked to see if anything followed them. Four more TIE-Fighters remained and fired at them. Ben pointed the gunner and the screen locked on to one and he pulled the trigger and the TIE-Fighter exploded. Rey was having trouble as her gunner was damage from going into the narrow area. It can still fire but it was slower at firing.
Ben pointed to another fighter trying to lock on but he was having some difficulty. He always did tell his father to update the tech on the ship but Han always said no. Instead of locking on Ben just held down on the trigger. It worked for one fighter and then another fighter blew up as Rey was able to get it. It was now down to one and they both could take it on as it didn't stand a chance. Ben and Rey fired and a blast clipped it's wing causing it to spin out of control and crashing.
Ben and Rey then looked at each other across the way smiling slightly. That was just more team work. They actually worked well together. They looked at one another, locked in the moment, a rather triumphed moment but then a barking order came through their earpieces. They both got up and headed back to the cockpit, this was far from over. Ben quickly got into the pilot chair and took over while Rey sat right behind him.
"We need to double back." Rey pointed out and Ben pulled the controls up as they flew out back into daylight. The Falcon turned around but how they going to pull this off? It was just a very small First Order ground fleet and by the looks of it, a handful of Resistance fighters. Rey watched as Ben flew clicking on some controls as if he's never stopped flying the Falcon. This was the ship he learned to fly in as a boy. He then eased the Flacon down into a gorge and got up. Rey and Chewy followed him outside and in the distance you could hear the battle and almost a pounding noise.
The three of them ran to the side of the gorge and up to the top. They weren't sure how to get in from here let alone being noticed but they had to do something. They came to the edge of the cliff and looked down. The Resistance was gone as the First Order made they're advancement.
"It's General Hux." Ben informed the other two.
"What do we do?" Rey asked because what do they do? They have no weapons, they are out man and out gunned. There was no way to get to the Resistance from here to help.
"A distraction." Ben answered and Rey looked to him very confused. "There has to be a way out for them."
"Ben," Rey didn't like where he was going.
"I'll go down there and hold them off." Ben explained his plan and Rey's eyes widen while Chewy gave some protesting barks.
"You're going to face the First Order with nothing but a lightsaber?" Rey asked and then it hit her. "Yeah, that was a stupid idea." She more or less whispered to herself and Ben looked confused. "Ben," She was trying to talk some sense into him.
"Chewy, go back to the Falcon and wait, you'll need to take off as soon as possible." Ben started to lay out his plan. Chewy barked again and Ben walked over to him. "Chewy! We don't have time to argue!" Ben raised his voice and Chewy backed off for a moment. For Chewy that voice rang out much like Han's would. "We'll argue another time, I'll let you hit me, but the Resistance needs you too." Chewy then went to his whine of disapproval and yet acceptance. For a moment Chewy really did have Ben back. "Go." Ben ordered and Chewy started to run back to the Falcon.
"And what am I doing?" Rey asked him. If he was going to do this then he shouldn't do it alone.
"You need to lead them out." Ben answered and Rey nodded. Ben walked to the edge of the cliff and Rey followed looking down to the bottom. She took in a deep breath and then Ben reached out pulling her close to him and embraced her. She held on as he jumped off the cliff side.
Rey opened her eyes and saw they were on the ground and looked up to Ben. He wanted to say something but there was no time. Rey looked to the First Order as it advanced to the old base. She then saw the doors and the small hole created and ran for it. Ben stood his ground.
Rey ran inside and was greeted by blasters pointing at her. But a familiar face saw her and smiled.
"Rey!" Fin called out and ran to her. She ran to him and they hugged. Leia smiled and walked over to her. Rey let go of Fin and then hugged Leia. Rey knew Leia wanted to know where her brother was but there would be another time for that.
"Who's that?" Poe asked as he pointed to a silhouette of a person in the distance. Rey turned around seeing Ben's figure standing there.
"We need to get out." Rey turned their attention away for a moment.
"There is no way in or out except through that door." C-3PO spoke up and Rey looked to Leia. They were stuck and unless Ben actually took down the First Order here and now, they were stuck.
"Then we should fight." Fin spoke up. "Get all the blasters we can hold and we fight." Poe however never took his eyes off the man outside.
"No," Poe then looked back to the small group. "Rey's right, we need to leave."
"How?" Fin asked. "You heard the gold droid, this blasted open front door is the only way in or out. We just take on the Order and we go down fighting." Poe then thought what General Holden said before she sacrificed herself.
"We are the spark that will light the fire that'll burn the First Order down." Poe whispered and looked to Rey. "Let's find a way out."
"How?" Fin asked again and then Poe looked around as well as Fin. "What happened to those crystal foxes?" Just then they heard a bark and saw one of the foxes. Everyone looked to one another and started to scramble out. As they started to file out Rey looked to the entrance of the fortress and towards Ben. She wanted to help but someone needed to guide these people with the Force.
Ben stood before the AT-ATs alone not knowing what was going to happen. Maybe they would listen to him but he knew better. He knew Hux told them that he killed Snoke, which wasn't incorrect but he knew he embellished it. He and Hux hated one another so for Hux this was revenge. Ben stood there and started to breathe deeper knowing he was going to need to use all his concretion and all his focus. Just then the AT-ATs began to fire at him. Ben closed his eyes to hold the laser blasters at bay. Holding a few wasn't difficult but more kept coming. They started to get heavy. Ben held out his hand to give him a better chance as more keep coming. Ben took in a deeper breath knowing he had to stay calm and stay focus. More lasers fired and the weight was getting heavier. Ben couldn't help but let out a gasp of pain from the ever growing weight. But he had to keep thinking "shield."
'"The Force can protect you," Luke explained to Ben and the other young Jedi. "Using it in defense is as equally powerful as in protection. It's energy, it's tangible in that way." Luke then looked to the young Solo. "You can create a protection around you both in your mind and body. Think of a shield, a shield holding back what can harm you."'
Ben held out his other hand trying to grow that shield, that protection. The weight was getting worse, he could feel it. But if he gives up then Rey may not make it, Chewy may not make it, his mother won't make it.
'Luke sat before a thirteen year old Ben. They were meditating together.
"Why do this?" Ben asked.
"Body strength is one thing Ben, the mind can be even stronger." Luke answered and Ben nodded. "It's not always about body strength, it's what you do here," Luke pointed to his head.'
Ben let out a loud cry and imagined pushing back the lasers. He widen his arms out and pushed with the Force as hard as he could and then collapsed. Ben looked up seeing of the lasers flew all around and even hitting some of the AT-ATs. Ben then took out his lightsaber knowing he would have to defend himself. He wanted to get up but felt weak. He slowly got up but fell back to the ground again and spat out some blood. He then reached to his side as one laser blast was able to get him. He looked up to the remaining AT-ATs as they began to advance. Ben managed to pull himself up and felt winded as if he was going to pass out.
Rey led the Resistance to a wall where they followed the crystal fox and it managed to slip through some rocks. Rey let out a sigh and nodded.
"Lifting rocks…I can do this." She more or less said to herself and held out her hand. Leia smiled as she saw the rocks lifting away. Rey pushed them so a small exit formed. The handful of Resistance fighters ran and the Falcon sat there waiting. Chewy came out and started to usher them in. Rey started to follow but then looked back to the cave they came from and stood there.
"Come on, come on," She whispered to herself. Leia was about to board the Falcon when she turned for Rey but Rey was waiting. Leia walked over to Rey and stood next to her knowing they didn't have all day. "Please, please," Rey begged and Leia saw her eyes starting to water. Leia looked into the darkness hoping to see him too. "Ben?" Rey asked and the darkness didn't answer back. Leia reached out to pull Rey to the Falcon as it was time to leave.
As Rey started to turn away she heard something and turned back to the cave. Out of the darkness Ben stumbled out using the wall to hold him up. He looked awful like he was beaten down and up. "Ben!" Rey ran to him as Leia stood there in shock. She hasn't seen her son in years and he has grown up. Rey rushed to him as he slid down the to ground. Leia followed her to help her son up.
Rey reached to Ben and started to help him up. He was almost dead weight though and exhausted. Just as Rey started to help him up Chewy came out to them. Chewy reached for Ben and hoisted him over his shoulder. Chewy would do that when Ben was little as a game but now it was to help him up. Rey and Leia followed the Wookie into the Falcon. Rey closed the ramp as Chewy set Ben down on the ground and headed for the cockpit. Rey got down to the ground and placed her hand on Ben's cheek and his face was hot, he was burning up.
"Whatever he did took a lot of energy." Leia commented as she sat on the other side of Ben. Rey then saw Ben holding his side knowing he was injured.
"What the hell is going on?" A voice asked and Fin stood there. Rey stood up and then got in between Fin and Ben.
That's the first chapter. Is Kylo really Ben and is Ben here to stay? What happens now? Leave your thoughts and comments. As always, thanks for reading you guys are awesome.