Chapter 27 72-48-24-0
Rey and Ben ran down the hall with their sabers ignited. They ran side by side in a hurry knowing the enemy wasn't far behind. Rey turned the corner sharply with Ben next her although he lost some traction and slide a little further away from Rey and had to catch back up. Ben looked behind him seeing shadows in the distance.
"Blaster doors!" Rey pointed and Ben reached her side grabbing her arm so they can stay and keep up with one another. With her free hand Rey reached out and crushed the panel with the Force. The doors started to close and they both slid underneath for as the doors were locked.
"Now what?" Ben asked and Rey looked around and saw some computers.
"I can hack it from here." She answered as she put her saber away and sat as desk. Ben looked around room making sure they safe.
"How long will it take?" Ben asked and Rey began to type and placed a disk into the computer.
"How long can you give me?" She asked and Ben nodded and brought his wrist COMM closer.
"Chewie, Connix, get the Falcon ready." Ben ordered deactivated his saber clipping it to his belt as he looked around. He was already making a plan on their exit.
"Where the hell are you guys?" It was Poe's voice over the COMM.
"We managed to find a computer room." Ben answered back guarding Rey as she worked.
On the other side of the outpost Poe fired at some Troopers as he was with Finn. This was supposed to be a quick easy heist type mission. It was go in the cover of night, get in and go. Now the sun was rising and the whole base was alerted to them. There were no fighters it was just Rey, Ben, Poe, Finn, Chewie and Connix. Chewie and Connix were in the Falcon making their way over to them to get ready to take off. Poe and Finn got back into the building and closed the door. Finn shot at the panel hoping that will buy some time.
"This mission sucks." Finn commented checking his weapon and looked around seeing where they could go.
"We've had worse." Poe added as they started down the hall knowing this was far from over.
In the computer room Rey worked frantically typing. Ben continued to stand there knowing the enemy was hot on their heels. He then twirled his saber as he turned it back on knowing the enemy was at the door trying to open it.
"Rey, we have company!" Ben yelled meaning she had to get whatever she could or forget about it. Ben held out his saber ready. The key codes were in front of her and she began to copy them. Ben twirled his saber as Rey reached for the disk, got up and turned to Ben.
"Let's go." She insisted and Ben raced to her as they head to another door. They raced out and as they ran they ran into Finn and Poe. The four of them ran down the hallway together but heard something behind them. Finn saw they were being followed. The four upped their speed and got into another room and sealed the door. They heard the pounding and blaster rays on the other side. The four stood there to take a moment to breathe but they didn't have time.
"Maybe we got them demoralized." Poe commented as the four started to spread out to find a way out and make their grand exit.
"Shut up." Ben ordered as he looked around hearing the pounding on the other side.
"Did you get the data?" Poe asked and Rey held up the disk and Poe smiled.
"If we don't find a way out it's all for nothing." Finn reminded them as he held his blaster ready to fight.
"We always find a way out." Poe sounded like while they were somewhat stuck they can still manage. They looked around the room. Just then doors blew opened and some Troopers started to fire at them. Rey ducked under some desks as the three boys got to a wall as both Poe and Finn shoot at it making enough of a hole to get through. The three got threw not realizing Rey wasn't with them. Rey took a deep breath and stood up and blocked the blaster rays with her saber and killed a few Troopers in the process. She then made a run for it but she came to the back of the room seeing there was no way out.
On the other side Finn saw the camera and saw Rey was trapped with the Troopers moving in.
"She has no way out!" Finn yelled at Ben and Poe not knowing what to do. Ben looked to the video studying it quickly and then looked to a wall. He ignited his saber and ran towards the wall. He slashed through the wall and then jumped to it and through it. Rey looked up as Ben stood there. He reached for her and she reached to him as he pulled her out and the four were back together and took off running.
"The exit should she be straight ahead and left!" Poe yelled and then an explosion happened. "Ok, go right!" He yelled out making sure they went in the right direction and the four turned. This mission kept getting worse and worse.
"We're running out of hallway." Finn looked around and now they were trapped. The four looked around quickly assessing the current situation and how to move on. "Now what?" Then Rey saw a huge vent and knelt down opening it and looked in. "Whatever you're doing Rey do it fast!" Rey looked to them and brought her wrist COMM to her.
"Chewie, have BB-8 send the schematics of the building to me!" She demanded and then a small HOLO of the floor plan came up. "I want to see the air ducts." Then that popped up and Rey looked at it, she knew how to read floor plans so quickly she seemed faster than a computer at times. "Let's go!" She ordered as she crawled in.
"Come on let's move!" Poe yelled as Rey crawled through the vents. It was large enough for them to crouch down and run through. Ben pulled them in and with the Force pulled the cover of the vent back to its spot with the Force and quickly wield it shut with the tip of his saber. Rey started to lead them through as they ran low to the ground. "After this, I call for a normal picnic day on the beach." Poe added as they went through. Rey then came to a four-way intersection and looked at her map. She went left and they followed.
"Connix you copy?" Ben asked to his COMM as he was behind them making sure they weren't being followed.
"Yes, Admiral!" It was Connix voice.
"What's your position?" Ben demanded.
"We're tracking you guys now, less than two minutes away." Connix answered.
"We're almost out!" Ben announced as they crawled through the ducts. Rey then stood up straight seeing the vent above her. Ben walked up to Rey and without directions or need for directions he lifted her up easily as she lifted the grate and climbed out. Poe then took Ben's shoulder as Ben lifted Poe up and Rey grabbed him pulling him out. Finn did the same and the three reached down as Ben jumped up and they all helped pull him out. The Falcon flew overhead and landed as the four ran to it.
"Need a lift?" Connix asked as the four ran to the ramp and into the Falcon.
"Chewie take off!" Ben order as he was the last one in and he took a nano second to breathe. "Poe and Finn I want you on the guns." He ordered the two tossed down their blasters and headed to the gunners and got in. Ben headed to the cockpit as BB-8 raced with him R2 joined on the mission with them too. Ben got into the pilot chair as Chewie started the flight sequence. Connix and Rey sat behind the two.
As the Falcon took off Troopers started to fire at them.
"We're being fire at!" Poe's voice came over the COMM as Ben put the earpiece on.
"We're always being fired at." Ben muttered to himself.
"And here comes the parade." Rey commented seeing some TIEs coming at them. Ben pulled up and around.
"Keep them off me." Ben ordered as he and Chewie started to make their way out of the planet's orbit. Rey started working the anti-lightspeed tracker. "Get us into lightspeed Chewie." Chewie road and pressed the controls up but the ship made a moan and nothing.
"No lightspeed?" Rey asked and Ben looked at the control board frantically.
"Shit!" Ben got up from the chair. "Rey!" He commanded as she took over to fly and Ben ran out.
"Why aren't we in hyperspace?" Finn asked.
"It's down again." Connix informed them.
"Again? What that's like the fourth time this month." Poe commented as he continued to fire at the TIEs following them. Ben followed by BB-8 and R2 went to a panel as he pulled it off. He started to look at the wires.
"Rey!" He called to her. He knew the Falcon in and out, this was his childhood playground and he's been trying to rebuild this frater for the last year. But when he fixes one thing another piece falls apart. Rey knew her mechanics so she came running to him. She knew what she needed to do and grabbed a tool kit and started to work and the two worked frantically. They passed tools to one another and worked off one another. R2 started to beep wildly and both Rey and Ben looked to the droid. Rey nodded and Ben reached in and pulled at cable. The ship jolted and Chewie knew that was the cue.
The Falcon took off into hyperspace and Ben lowered himself to the floor dropping the tool on the floor out of exhaustion. Rey went to the floor and sat next to him breathing heavily. They then faced each other for a moment and Rey smiled at him. Ben smiled a little and took in a deep breath as he reached out placing hand on her shoulder. That was not their best mission to clock in.
The team sat in the common area to debrief for a moment as they made their way to base. Ben chugged down some water and placed his cup on the table.
"I'd rate that mission a three." Poe added as everyone was catching their breath. "Did you get everything?" He asked Rey and her eyes widen with the face asking 'are you serious?' Poe nodded knowing they needed a second. Every one of them was sweaty, tired and dirty.
"We're still alive, that was close." Finn reminded them Chewie barked. "How did they know we were there?" Finn asked and Poe shrugged and took in a deep breath. They might have tripped a system and didn't realize it. "How long will it be before they realize what we took?"
"It'll take them a while." Rey answered meaning she hid her tracks. She then started to laugh and that caused Poe to laugh and Finn chuckled and Ben just looked annoyed. Connix smiled knowing they were laughing because this went so wrong and yet they pulled it off. Leia won't be laughing when they report back but they did managed to accomplish this mission. Rey rested her head to Ben's shoulder as he leaned back in the seat resting.
Rey let the hot water running down her sore body. The team got a stern talking to and Leia went from angry General to stern mom. They were more afraid when she went mother on them not a war General. It didn't matter now as the mission was done, they were home safe and got the data they wanted. Rey ran her hands through her hair but she wasn't alone anymore in the shower stall. Ben went in to join her because he was tired. That mission was supposed to take an hour from time of landing to take off. They got trapped all night.
But for some reason after a tough mission or battle, a grueling sparring match; Rey and Ben seemed more amped up to be with one another. Maybe it was the adrenaline and they seemed to live off of it. But looking back they managed to fix the hyperdrive on the Falcon quickly and they did it without speaking they just worked in perfect synch with one another. Ben pulled Rey in for a series of kisses and she responded wrapping both arms around his shoulders.
Rey rubbed her sleepy eyes as she looked to the screen. It was late at night and she continued to type and continued to decrypt the coding as she went back and forth between the screens. She looked at the time knowing she should go to sleep. She couldn't fall asleep so she worked instead.
"Rey?" It was Ben and his voice was tired. She looked over seeing him to her looking like giant zombie. "It's three in the morning." He sat next to her squinting his eyes from the harsh computer light.
"I couldn't sleep." She answered and Ben didn't sense anything off or strange. She really just couldn't sleep and that happens. Ben then looked to the screen and watched the decoding and decrypting process happen. Rey was just pulling single letters and then go back to reassign those letters to words and then find out everything. The Order has been encrypting everything lately but that didn't stop Rey. She then sat back in her chair because there was nothing they could do now.
"Come back to bed." Ben offered and Rey sighed.
"I just want to have this ready for the morning so you can present this to the Commonwealth." She stated. Since their first meeting a series of Out-Rim Territories and some other systems have joined the Resistance and they were known as the Commonwealth for now. It appeared Ben was leading them politically even if he didn't want to but because he represented a people he had to be there politically. There was meeting going to be held by the leaders and Ben was one. Rey wanted him to succeed in his role as king so she wanted to make sure he had everything.
"You can still sleep and finish in the morning." Ben suggested and Rey sighed knowing she won't win this argument. She nodded and reached for the computer and dimmed the screen so it can stay on but it won't keep them awake. They stood up and walked to the bed together. Rey scooted closer to Ben and rested her head on his chest and got comfortable. She listened to his breathing and heartbeat hoping that can lull her to sleep.
She felt like she couldn't sleep though and sat up as Ben watched her. She pulled herself all the way on top of him and then rested her head on his chest again as he wrapped both arms around her. Rey took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. She felt Ben kiss the top of her head and looked up to him. He tucked some hair behind her ear and she pulled herself closer, kissing him hungrily. When she kisses him like this something was bothering her. She may not know what it was that bothered her but it was something.
Ben pulled her in closer responding to her and then gently rolled over so he can look at her. She reached out placing a hand to his face. Sometimes just looking at one another was all they needed. Ben leaned in for another kiss just assure whatever doubts or whatever was weighing on her that it was all ok. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer into the night.
Ben walked towards a building but he was alone. He wanted Rey to be here to represent the Resistance but it was decided it was the Commonwealth's army and that the Resistance operated separately from the new forming government. If the Resistance needed to be represented or needed a voice within the Commonwealth that would be Ben's job. The young king walked as other leaders or their representatives were gathering into the hall. Ben walked in and looked for his seat and found it and sat down. He wasn't decked out in the robes just the red sash, a medal, the Resistance patch with a emblem indicating his Admiral status, a side cape and the smaller crown.
There would be a mediator for this and after everyone else would talk. They have been gathering weekly as more systems learned of this new government and learning it was the poorer systems wanting in. The Order has yet to learn about this as these meetings not only traveled but were kept secret. Ben sat there waiting for the last of the people to come in and the meeting started.
"I believe King Solo has information." The mediator started and Ben stood up holding up a disk as a droid came over and took it from him. Ben continued to stand there as Rey's works were now displayed for them.
"Excellent work." One leader commented to Ben.
"It wasn't me." Ben made sure that was known as he left his seat to present the information. The data Rey stole was a tactical read out of the ship the Order has been building, data one new projects and new bases that were to be established. Some of these bases were marked to be placed out in some of these leaders' home worlds. This should give the Resistance time to send forth some of their fighters to start training the systems' people to fight. The talk started as Ben sat down and he thought about Rey. He just wanted to get home to her. Something was amiss with her and he needed to make sure his student was ok. But a small smile formed as he thought about her from the early morning hours they had together.
As Ben was being a king Rey was training. It wasn't always easy to train alone for saber fighting. But she wasn't doing that. Finn held out a mat as Rey punched at it. She learned fast that Ben knew hand-to-hand combat. After she mastered sword training he taught her fist-to-fist training. She was doing that now. Rey took a moment to breath as Finn lowered the mat. She knew how to throw a punch and kick. He tossed the mat to Rey and she caught it and it was Finn's turned.
As they trained Poe came in to join in a little bit. He took a seat and began to critique on Finn's form. Once Finn finished Poe started and it would be the three of them training in some combat together.
Rey sat on the beach alone listening to the waves wash on shore. She was watching the sunset and let the breeze wash over her. She sat right where the waves washed up gently on the shore. She liked being like this as she sat there listening to sounds of day turning into night. She then reached out and picked up a shell and smiled. Ben worked hard in finding this place for her and she enjoyed everyday out here. Rey brought her knees closer to her chest as she studied the shell. She decided this one will go into her collection.
Back inside Rey toweled her wet hair and sat at her desk for moment. She looked to her two computer screens and saw a file opened to her latest tech projects. She thought about staying up to work on it but knew she should sleep. The faster she can fall asleep the faster she could wake up and Ben would be home. He wouldn't be home until late at night.
Rey started to stir awake and blinked a few times and rolled over reaching out to Ben but the space was empty. She sat up just a little and realized his side of the bed was never touched. She looked around and she can hear that it was raining outside. Rey got up and quickly got dressed and headed out to the hanger. The day had barely started and most of the base was still asleep, and the night shift was slowly turning in. As she reached the hanger the Falcon was there getting some repairs done although no one will touch it until Ben returns. Rey looked around seeing the sunlight slowly enter the hanger.
Rey walked through the hanger looking seeing all the ships and cruisers lined up nicely. She walked outside of the hanger seeing the Black Squad was lined up and the major ships in flanking position and ready to fly if needed. But she looked for one cruiser in particular. Ben had a different ship for when he traveled as King. She looked around she couldn't find it. Rey ran back into the hanger and looked for the Dock and Bay Charge. She found the woman there as she was ready to leave and just waiting for her relief to show.
"Shera," Rey walked up to her and the woman saluted her. "Did Ben return last night?" Rey asked and Shera type on her computer and shook her no.
"No Admiral Rey, he and the crew have not returned." Shera confirmed.
"When was the last time they check in?" Rey asked and Shera went to look.
"Not since yesterday since landing." Shera wasn't helping and Rey kept thinking.
"No distress calls?" Rey asked and Shera looked and shook her head no. "Call them." Rey then climbed into the little area as Shera placed a call out. The number was dialed and they waited. But nothing was coming back just a static white noise meaning the receiving end was gone. Rey then reached for a COMM. "Where's General Leia?" She asked.
"Sleeping." A voice replied.
"Wake her, now." Rey dropped the COMM link. "No ship is to leave the hanger." Rey order Shera and the woman nodded and started to type. Rey ran out of the hanger and into the living quarters of the base. She made it to the back where Leia was and the General just stepped out of her room.
"Rey?" She asked seeing Rey looked panic.
"Ben never returned last night, no call ins and we can't connect to him." Rey stated.
"Bad signal? Weather?" Leia wanted to make sure it wasn't a mechanical malfunction.
"I checked with Shera, there's nothing." Rey answered and Leia nodded.
"Call a meeting." Leia ordered and Rey nodded.
The commanders of the Resistance sat in the chambers in their round circle. Poe sat down next to Finn with Connix on the other side. Leia and Rey walked into the room as they were the two highest ranking officers. The room stood up as the two women stood there. Leia nodded for everyone to sit but Rey remained standing with Leia. The General then turned to Rey letting her lead this.
"Has Ben contacted anyone since leaving yesterday?" Rey asked and everyone looked around, some shaking their heads no others shrugging. Rey kept calm but this was looking worse by the moment.
"He didn't forget to check in?" One member asked and Rey hoped that's all it was.
"We can't get his ship to contact us and this meeting was to last for a day." Rey continued and everyone looked around knowing Rey had asked all the questions and looked for anything that pointed that Ben either did forget to check in or maybe he returned in an unconventional area. But no records of his return have been seen.
"What about contacting the Commonwealth itself?" Poe asked hoping they haven't tried that.
"They would have already dispersed by now." Finn answered meeting once the meeting was over the location was cut off to help keep them untraceable. "Communications status had shown the meeting adjourn yesterday afternoon."
"Then after meeting there was a dinner and then everyone left." A woman commander spoke up to add to the timeline. The complete details remained somewhat secret even if Ben will spill it to them later. But it was to keep everything shrouded and keep the Order from knowing anything.
"Have we checked in with any other leaders?" Connix joined in. If everyone got home safely then they were in trouble.
"From our detectors, everyone at that meeting other than Admiral Solo returned home." 3PO was in the meeting with the leaders and the chatter started. Something happened because everyone at that meeting left at the same time and Ben was gone.
"Side mission of some kind?" Poe asked to be a little bit more optimistic. "Maybe he went to check something out?"
"Like what?" Another leader asked and Poe shrugged.
"A distress call, a lead on something?" Poe offered a few reasons but when he looked to Rey that seemed to be highly unlikely. Ben would have let everyone know he was doing that. Rey didn't show it but she was in a panic. She wanted to get up and start looking but that wasn't going to do anything. They had to be thoughtful and through. "Is there a way to track his ship?" Rey nodded because she can find a way. She was already on it and in the middle of the room a HOLO pulled up with Ben's ship make and model. The screen then showed a map as Rey continued to type.
Poe stood up folding his arms across his chest as Rey finished. The timeline of Ben's departure and journey started. The room watched seeing a sped up time and then saw Ben' ship making it's way home and then it stopped and disappeared.
"What the hell?" Poe asked softly because the whole room asked that same question. "Pull in on that sector." Poe asked and Rey did just that and started to put up numbers. "No weird electrical stuff?"
"No, there's nothing in that area." Rey finished as she did her last scan on it.
"We send a scout team out there. Maybe his ship short circuited." Finn jumped in and they hoped that's all this was. Leia already knew she will not be able to have Rey sit this one out in anyway.
Some of the Blue Squad, a small medical cruiser and a bigger cruiser headed out to that sector of space. Rey saw the little ship floating there but something wasn't right, she couldn't feel Ben. They pulled the cruiser in and Rey went to board it and she was going to figure this out and now. Rey boarded the ship and already she knew this was bad. There were no lights so her crew along with Poe, Finn, Chewie and Connix came inside.
Rey pulled out something to give light and let the crew see if they can power the ship back up. Rey walked towards the quarters where Ben would be but the room was empty. Chewie then barked and Rey turned around to see what made the Wookie bark. She saw burn marks on the walls and they were cause by a lightsaber.
"There was a fight." Poe confirmed it as they stumbled around in the dark. Rey made her way to the cockpit and sat down but before touching the controls she winced. There was blood on the controls, it was smear everywhere and some of the controls were smashed. She felt her hand trembling and then the lights flickered on. She could see everything now and went to find where the ship log was. The rest of the crew joined up in the cockpit.
"There's nothing here." Finn confirmed as Rey continued to work and his own eyes widen seeing the blood on the controls. Just then a small hologram pulled up of the ships log. Rey could see when Ben entered the ship and that was when he first left. Rey started to speed everything up until she found what was necessary. She found a spot seeing Ben sitting in the chair looking bored. But when he looked up he got up as they heard sirens from the hologram. They gathered the ship was under attack. They watch Ben give out commands and one was to contact the Resistance.
Ben ignites his saber as the fight ensues but the log goes black. The screen was black but they could hear the fight. Finn reached out to Rey placing his hand to Rey's shoulder trying to comfort her. No one knew what was worse seeing or just hearing the fighting. Finn pulled Rey closer to him and the audio went out. The high command all looked around and Leia was still.
"First Order, it has to be them." A member stated and it seemed to be the only answer.
"How, this was a covert meeting, nearly off the books." Poe joined meaning they kept everything nearly under wraps.
"Sell out?" A woman spoke up. "Ben is wanted by the Order we all know this."
"A spy within the Commonwealth?" Connix asked.
"Or here?" Poe suggested and that created tension right away. There are enough people in this galaxy that will love to have Kylo Ren/Ben Solo dead. "We need to find a way to track him, find him."
"That's if he's not dead already." Someone suggested and Rey looked to that person. "His ship was taken over at approximately thirteen hundred hour. He was to return to base at midnight. We didn't discover that he was missing until this morning around six hundred hour. It is now fifteen hundred. A whole day has passed." No one could deny that or the reality that Ben Solo was already dead. But Rey knew better, she would have felt it, he's out there somewhere. "Where would we start?"
"As of now Admiral Ben Solo of the Resistance and the King of Alderaan is a prisoner of war." Leia declared and that made the situation that more serious. "I want a team out in that sector and I want in scanned thoroughly. I want our sector on twenty-four guard. I want the names of everyone who attended that meeting down to the janitor. I want my son home." Leia wasn't playing around and Rey stood up and was already on it.
The early hours of the morning were here. Rey was in the communications room and she was literally scouring the nearby sectors from Ben's last known site. She should sleep but couldn't. The bed was too cold and lonely and she couldn't rest until she knew where Ben was.
"Kiddo it's four in the morning." Poe walked into room and sat next to her handing her a drink. "I'll be honest, I didn't sleep much." He sipped his drink. "Anything?" Poe knew there was nothing but he at least had to ask. Rey shook her head no as she set down her cup and looked exhausted and frustrated. "We're going to find him." Poe was firm on that. He then pulled Rey in so she rested her head to his shoulder. "We'll find him."
Rey and Poe were sitting side by side on the ground and they were asleep. Poe's shoulder was Rey's pillow as she slept.
"Rey!" A voice called out. The young Jedi jolted a little as she started to come around. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes letting her vision clear. "Rey!" Rey looked around and saw Connix calling to her. "You need to see this." Poe helped Rey up and she helped him up as they followed Connix to the leadership chamber.
"This was sent to us just seconds ago." Leia informed everyone as they looked to the hologram in front of them. Leia pressed a button and the hologram began to play. Before the group four people stood, three Death Troopers and in the middle of two of them a man with a covering over his face.
"This is the mighty Kylo Ren." Voice came from somewhere and someone walked into the room. The person or who ever he was in black robes, black mask and Rey knew that look, it was a Knight of Ren. "Ben Solo as he calls himself now, the King of Alderaan, the Resistance Admiral, a traitor." The Knight then reached to the covering and showed Ben's face. "And now he's trying to form a government, fascism and tyranny for sure." There was a spy somewhere among them as the command crew watched this. "The Supreme Leader will not allow this terrorist, this murder and the organization he supports to continue. This is to the Resistance, lay down your arms, surrender and you precious King will live." The Knight swung around throwing a punch to Ben's face.
The entire room gasped in the wake of what they saw. Rey turned to Leia as the General covered her mouth in complete shock, her eyes wide in fear. Rey turned back to the HOLOgram and the Knight swung at Ben again knocking him to the floor. The Troopers around him continued to beat up on him. Rey could do nothing but watch. Poe walked to Leia pulling in closer to shield her from the images.
"You have three days." The Knight warned them and the screen went black. Rey continued to look in the direction of where Ben was, where he was being beaten. She tapped into the Force and felt him still there, weak but still there. She didn't have a way though to track him, if there was something it was left on the ship it was destroyed. She felt her heart racing and her mind running.
"I want a list of everyone who attending that meeting down to the hair dressers. I want everyone that knew about this meeting found and I want it done now!" Rey turned around looking at the command crew.
"You heard the Admiral! Let's move!" Finn ordered then room started to scramble out. Rey walked over to Leia and Poe as she fought back her emotions. Leia looked to Rey and wiped the tears away and stood tall trying to gain composure. Leia nodded letting Rey know she was ok even though she was far from it. Rey reached out placing both hands on Leia's shoulders assuring that she was going to get Ben. Leia reached out and pulled Rey in for a hug knowing she needed some comfort to.
The base was working over time as they pulled up everything they could. Rey walked through the hanger to the communications room as Connix met up with her.
"These are the names of all the people in that meeting. We're ready to deploy scouts to the location to see if anything was hacked in anyway." Connix explained to Rey handing her a disk and the Admiral nodded. Connix then handed another disk to Rey. "These are those who knew of the meeting outside of the Commonwealth, us included."
"Admiral Rey, Blue Squadron is ready to deploy to the system of Nimban." A man said and Rey nodded.
Out in the hanger Poe began to gear up his X-Wing with BB-8 in tow. The X-Wing lifted from the ground and his squad was on their way. Rey stepped out to watch them leave and then would monitor from afar. As she looked out into the day she knew the time was draining. Some would demand for them to surrender, others will fight even if Ben is killed. And while she was within the Force hoping for the best outcome she had to also understand the worse.
Rey, Finn, Connix, Chewie and Leia were in contact with Poe as they swept the location of the meeting site. So far it meant nothing had happened here. Nothing seemed to be hacked, damaged or out of place.
"It's quiet Rey and I don't like it." Poe's voice came over the COMM. Rey nodded.
"Return to base." Rey ordered and she looked to Leia. "We're going to need to talk to everyone at the meeting."
"Someone really that much of a coward?" Finn asked but yes someone could be that scared.
"This is the price on Ben Solo." Connix pulled up the data. A picture of Ben appeared with his information and then reward money.
"Han always had a high price but this is even more." Leia added remembering how Han was always concerned with the bounty on his head. Rey rested against the table looking at the so call reward for Ben's capture, it was a huge payout and that was putting it lightly. It was the money and the constant fear on top of it. Rey continued to look at the price seeing the many digits. There's probably bounty hunters looking but they knew this. She has encrypted all the coding and she continues to do so. Rey has managed to keep two maybe even three steps ahead when it came to security.
So this little game was done within. Someone knew this and they both needed and wanted the money. She stared out into nothing thinking. She could hear the chatter of the room within the distance but it began to fade as she continued to think.
"I know who." Rey stood up and looked around.
"How?" Finn asked. "We haven't even started to ask those who were there."
"Horffin." Rey answered. "The first meeting, he didn't like me and he made sure everyone knew Ben was Kylo." Rey explained.
"Why sell out the Commonwealth? Why possible destroy a chance at democracy?" Finn asked because that was valid question.
"Fear?" Leia asked and Rey nodded. "Fear keeps people in line and the major payout will help him."
"So, what do we do?" Connix asked because they can't go in and start throwing punches.
"Arrest him for treason?" Finn added but didn't sound confidant in that statement.
"The high command crew comes with me." Rey started and looked around. "We pay a visit, just going to talk."
"He might know something is up." Connix made sure they were aware but that didn't seem to phase Rey one bit.
The Falcon piloted through space and came to the system of Kwenn. They headed straight to the capital and Rey knew she should go in calm and collective, not throw any accusations and to be level headed. That's what she knew but that's not what she felt, if anything she felt betrayed. The Falcon landed and she left first with Finn, Poe and Chewie behind her. She was dressed for a fight, not a peace talk.
Horffin was sitting in his chair looking out the window to the rather pleasant day. As he reached for his cup he saw Rey walked towards his building. His heart started to race as he stood up. He then reached for his COMM.
Ben's eyes opened and he saw Rey was awake. They were out in the sun together, the waves washing up on the beach, the warmth of the day and cool breeze blowing on them. She smiled at him as she always does. Ben reached out to caress her face.
Ben jolted awake and looked round. He was sitting on the cold hard ground, the dim lights would flicker, the hum of the station was everywhere. Ben looked down to his bound hands in the restraints. He was sitting up against the wall and in front of him the bars that kept him in. One eye could barely open, he could taste blood in his mouth and he spat seeing the mix of clotted blood and saliva spatter on the ground. Just then he saw Bleys, a night before him.
Bleys was a Duros but unlike most that are a deep blue or green in skin he was more a pale blue, his eyes were a fire red. His face like Ben's carried scars. He was tall and lanky and on his body other than scars he had small tattoos. Much like Kylo Ren who kept the ashes of his enemies, Bleys tattoos those he's destroyed. The bars slid opened as Bleys walked in and squatted down to Ben's level.
"Where am I?" Ben asked, his voice horsed and filled with pain.
"No where important." Bleys answered knowing that Ben will try to connect with Rey. "How long has been Kylo?" Bleys seemed to strike up small talk. He then took a seat on the ground. "Wondering why I haven't killed you yet?"
"Antar wants that pleasure." Ben answered and Bleys nodded.
"Yes, yes he does." Bleys voice was deep and foreboding. "I have you but we're missing one key person. The Jedi," Ben continued to stare at Bleys. "Where is the Resistance Base? I know that's where you keep her." Ben then managed to lean forwards.
"Go to hell." Ben replied and Bleys smiled.
"I do miss you." Bleys then backhanded Ben across the face. "So, far they haven't laid down arms. You think they'll even try?" Ben sat back up looking at his former friend if you could call them friends. He didn't answer because either they were looking or they will save themselves and part of him was ok with that. "Call to her." Bleys stated and Ben kept quiet. He then reached out holding up a sharp blade to Ben. "I said, call to her." He then shoved the blade into Ben's shoulder. Ben let out a cry of pain as the blade went through his shoulder and out the other side. Bleys then started to turn it slowly. "Call to her," Bleys voice was soft but dark. "You call to her in your sleep, call to her now." Ben was breathing heavily in pain trying to bare it, resist it.
On Kwenn Rey sat silently waiting. She didn't want to interrogate Horffin because she knew she wouldn't be strong enough to do so. She would have beaten him up before getting anything out of him. As she waited Finn and Poe came out of the room as she sat there. But the look on their faces were not at all hopeful. Horffin came out cuffed knowing what he did but didn't look surprised by the ending of this.
"Why?" Rey asked him as she stood up.
"You know nothing of the Order, what they will do to us." Horffin began as he looked to Rey. "You are not a leader of a system, of a nation, you don't know what a burden it is to keep them safe. I did what I thought was right." His voice carried honesty and he truly felt what he did was right. Rey didn't say anything to him as Finn ushered him away.
"He gave us a vague location but he didn't even know entirely." Poe informed Rey meaning not only time was running out but they still had little to go off of.
Ben slowly woke up. He felt that pain in his shoulder quickly rising along with any other pain he might have. He sat himself up as much as he could, slowly as to not aggravate the pain any further. He wanted to call to Rey in the Force, have her sense him but that will bring the Order what they want. He can still for the most part careless what this galaxy does to itself but it was Rey he was hiding. If he dies then he knows he dies keeping her safe. He then saw someone come in.
"Ben," The voice was soft as his vision cleared a little. Once he could see straight he could see her brown eyes, her soft facial features. "Ben, wake up."
"Rey?" He asked and she reached out to him placing a hand on his cheek.
"Where are you?" She asked him as he looked around fighting off the blackout sensation. "Ben, please" She begged him. Ben looked at her as he sat up a little more. He studied her for a moment but something wasn't right. If she was trying to connect with him through the Force he would feel her, the breeze and calm. She was empty.
"Get out of my head." Ben demanded and the Rey before him disappeared.
Ben shot up as Bleys dumped some water on him. Ben was forced out of some sleep or trans as he looked around feeling the shock of the ice-cold water. It sent his nerve endings on fire on top of the pain he was already enduring. Bleys once more sat down in front of him.
"You always were tough." Bleys commented and it held no hate but more of reverence. "Do you remember the last day with all of us? Sitting at the table?" Bleys started as Ben continued to look at him shaking from the cold. He could barely see and he knew his face was covered in bruises, blood and swelling up. "Supreme Leader Snoke came in and gave us our assignments, splitting all of us up. After he left do you remember what we all agreed on?" He asked.
"I do." Ben answered and spat more blood out of his mouth; at least it was dry this time around.
"It was to one day reunite, one day to bring that bastard down and rule the galaxy as we wanted it." Bleys reminded him. "We swore to it, we swore in a blood pact." Bleys removed his glove and showed the faint scare. He then reached to Ben and showed Ben his bound hands, showing the faint scar he had. "We vowed to follow you, you were going to lead us into glory and…" Bleys paused and sighed. "Now look at you." The disappointment could be felt. "I was ready Kylo, I was ready to follow the true Supreme Leader, the heir to Lord Vader." Bleys then stood up. He then kicked Ben hard in the chest kicking the air right out of his lungs. "You deserve to die."
At the base in the communications room the command crew worked hard to find Ben. They had a map of the galaxy in front of them looking.
"So he's somewhere in this sector." Poe pointed to the Abrion area of the galaxy. "We won't be able to check every system there, not in time." Poe sounded panicked because time was running out. The people of Alderaan were getting nervous and some have volunteered to help.
"We've tracked him this far, there has to be a way to find him." Finn rushed in, they could not come all this way and then find nothing. "We didn't get this far." He reminded them to push a little more.
"What about the Force?" Connix added looking to Rey. "Take you out there and maybe find him?" That seemed pretty reasonable but the look on Rey's face didn't seem that she could do that.
"I can't find him in the Force anymore." Rey sighed to her answer. "He's…cut himself off." Rey was frustrated knowing he was intentionally doing that. It was to keep them safe but it made her feel completely helpless.
"He's protecting us." Leia made sure everyone was aware of what was happening. That made everyone in the room that much more amped up to save him. Leia studied the screen in front of her and then Poe noticed her face. He could tell she was noticing something they haven't. "Scarif," She pointed out.
"What about it?" Finn asked as Leia being to zoom in on the map to the system.
"It was run by the Empire, they kept their data there," Leia pulled up the small planet. "It's where Rebel Spies stole the Death Star plans." Leia smiled a little remembering that day. Those Rebels died but not without defeat. "He's there." Connix then took over and started to pull what information she could. Everyone waited for a moment and the moments seemed to just drag out.
"It's a wasteland now, most of the oceans are gone or covered in oil. Acid rain at times." Connix described the place now. It was a tropical planet, green with blue oceans decades ago. Connix continued to type and pull more information. "There is a facility there." She then let everyone look and read. They couldn't make much out from it but it seemed First Order fitting.
"It's heavily guarded." Poe began to explain what he saw. "We would need to take some of the fleet there just to get in, look," He pointed and zoomed in on a spot. "Shield generator."
"That's what they want us to do." Finn folded his arms across his chest and Chewie barked something as he added to it. "It's defiantly a trap."
"Heavy armor, the capitals all of that, they'll know and they'll launch a counter defense. They're ready." Poe continued on and the room remained quiet. This must have been something they have been plotting and planning for a while now. Leia then sat down as she thought about what to do. Her son's life was on the line, he was maybe the last person she had in this galaxy. She almost watched him die before and even at one point thought he was gone forever to the Darkside.
"I'll go." Rey spoke up and everyone looked to her. "I'll go." She was ready to take off right now.
"Alone?" Finn asked and she shrugged.
"They're expecting all of us not just one." Rey laid out her reasoning. But what were the chances he was even there? A trap within a trap perhaps? What if she goes in and Ben isn't there? She gets taken then its over completely.
"Rey, that's a heavily guarded First Order base, it once held information for Empire. They're waiting for us, they have the fire power." Finn wanted to level with Rey understanding her but over time he has understood the greater picture. "I want to save Ben too ok, we all do but you said it yourself, he's cut himself off from the Force; he's doing that on purpose to protect us, to protect you." Finn wanted to make sure she knew that what she wanted to do was dangerous will get herself killed. "You've done amazing things on your own I've seen it but there's a Knight of Ren holding him. It takes two of you to bring one of them down…" Finn trailed off. Leia then stood up with tears in her eyes.
"I can't lose you Rey, I can't," Leia trailed off and wiped a tear away. She looked around room and then to Poe, he was the one that always went rogue and if there's ever time now was it. Rey nodded looking to them. They weren't hiding or being scared, they were protecting everyone here and as a whole the entire galaxy. Ben was protecting them from afar and probably suffering for it. 'Balance, do not engage unless you know you can achieve balance.' Those words whispered to her. Rey left the room and the room itself was quiet.
Finn walked the base looking at the time; it was getting to the middle of day three. If they haven't killed Ben yet they will soon. As he walked he heard something and headed to the noise. He saw Rey in the armory.
"Rey?" He walked in as she was gathering supplies. "Rey, please don't do this." Finn begged.
"He's still alive, we still have time." Rey explained as she checked the blasters.
"Rey!" Finn yelled to break her out of some trans, some deep thought. She looked up to him as they stood before one another. "Rey," He sounded a little defeated too. "I know you love him," Rey stood there and in an instance her eyes got glassy. Finn walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in for an embrace. "We…I can't lose you either." Finn whispered and he felt Rey sob in his arms. "I'm sorry."
The night was calm, the ocean was quiet and the air was nearly still. Rey walked away from the base holding a bag of supplies. Her head was covered in that black scarf and she found the small cruiser she'll be taking. But she stopped in her tracks feeling someone was behind her. Rey turned around and saw Poe standing there.
"Are you going to try and stop me?" She asked and Poe shook his head no. Poe understood where Rey was coming from. She wanted to save everyone; she wanted to fight every battle. He was like that and when you face the possibility of defeat no matter what, it feels like it's killing you. She was putting love over duty and Poe respected that. It's hard to find love in these days during these dark times. And she didn't want to let it go not without a fight. She would have to learn to let go and this will teach her something no matter the outcome. Poe walked towards her.
"I'm much smarter to know not to stop you." Poe assured her.
"He's still alive." Rey made that clear. "He's saved us all in some way." She justified why she was doing this but she didn't have to, to Poe.
"I know, I know," Poe didn't need her to justify anything as he reached out cupping her cheeks. "I need you to be careful, methodical on this." Poe didn't want to lose Rey. They have all become so close in all this. He sees her not just as a Jedi but a friend, a sister. Poe pulled her in for hug to show her he was on her side. Rey responded and stood in his embrace a moment longer. Poe then reached into his pocket and handed her something. It was a wrist tracker. Rey took it and nodded knowing what this was for. She put it on and grabbed her things to head out. Poe watched her board the small cruiser and take off into the night. He stood there letting out a sigh knowing this will go bad no matter which way you wanted to spin it.
The word was in full swing at the base on the current plans. Night was here and at some point the Order will broadcast their message. The communications room was being jammed packed with people wondering what was going to happen. For those of Alderaan this was no way this was fair to have a king for a such a small period and for it all to be taken away even quicker. The high command crew met up to discuss further plans and what to do now. The other thing they will have to do is wait for word of Ben's death and they were prepared for a public execution to happen. As they all gathered with Leia before them she noticed one seat remained empty that shouldn't be.
As the meeting was getting ready 3PO came in.
"General Leia, Admiral Rey cannot be located and logs show a class two cruiser is missing." 3PO announced and there was already talk on what was happening. Finn looked to Poe and he looked back at Finn. Chewie gave a whimper knowing that this was going to happen.
"She went after Ben." Poe spoke up while standing up.
"You didn't try and stop her?" Another leader asked and Poe shrugged.
"Do you really think I was going to be able to stop a Jedi Knight?" Poe asked and no one objected to that. "Leia, it's Ben, we can't leave him there."
"It's a suicide mission." Another leader stepped in.
"We've done a few of those." Poe started to back up Rey and Finn smiled a little.
"Rey's right." Finn stood up. "They know the Resistance will come in a big show, but not just a few." Poe then looked to his friend.
"Ben has come this far, he's gotten us a lot further than I ever thought he could." Poe was honest. "We can't leave him there, we can't let him die there." Poe looked around the room fighting for someone who was once their enemy. "He's come all this way, he's fought with a for us, leaving him there means all of this was for nothing. We can't, we don't leave our people behind or we're no better than the Order." The room was silent as everyone thought about those words. Leia then stood up. She wanted to be in Rey's place but it's not too late. She looked around the room as it was time to save a warrior.
"Then what's the plan?" Leia asked seeing how they wanted to try and fight. Poe then held up the wrist tracker showing he was already on it. The room started to chatter.
"And how many will we need?" Connix asked and Chewie roared letting everyone know he was going no matter what. Poe looked to Leia and this meant something. They're people will never be left behind; they will save one of them. This was what the Resistance was about save one and save a thousand.
"Permission to jump into an X-Wing and blow something up?" Poe asked her and Leia smiled and nodded.
"Permission granted." Leia stated and Poe turned to the crowds, as he was next in line to the leadership. It was time to get Solo back.
"I want details and flight plans in the next thirty minutes!" Poe ordered. "The sooner the better." The room started to file out to get the details and the best plan ready.
"We need ground support details now!" Finn ordered as well. Leia smiled seeing them get ready. She kept repeating to herself to Ben hoping he could hear her; she repeated asked for him to hold on just a little longer, they were coming.
A/N: Cliffhanger, what's going to happen? Let's discuss.
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