Chapter 38 Smoke and Mirrors
A/N: Hello readers and I hope all is well with what 2020 and 2021 is offering. I have finally updated so enjoy.
Rey glared at Ben as the base was prepping to head to the prison. Luke was with Leia as they watched the young couple argue.
"So, you thought keeping this from me was ok?" Rey asked.
"Rey," Ben wanted to explain.
"You didn't think I wouldn't figure it out?" Rey kept going.
"I hope you wouldn't," Ben quietly added but realized that wasn't a smart comment as Rey's eyes could burn a hole through him. "I was going to tell you when I had what I needed."
"What you needed?" Rey asked. "Ben," Rey paused with a sigh. "Ben, you're a king with a group of people to lead, you hold status in what could be the new republic you can't be doing this, hiding secrets,"
"I have an heir now." Ben added.
"You're her father and we both would like to keep you around." Rey then went quiet.
"It's strange to know my nephew is a king." Luke added to Leia and she nodded.
Rey and Ben were silent with one another for a moment. Rey looked around and came up with a plan. "You stay here, your royal highness." Rey then headed off leaving Ben there. But that last bit was a both an order and a sting. Ben then looked over to Luke and Leia standing there knowing they caught the conversion. He headed over to them as they waited. Luke then bowed his head a bit to his nephew which seemed to annoy Ben.
"Don't," Ben insisted and it made Luke a little happy to have a way to annoy him. Ben was more like Han than he'll ever know. Luke always found a way to annoy Han with little things.
"What title do I have since I'm the brother of a princess and uncle to the king?" Luke continued on seeing Ben was about to leave the conversation.
"You want a title? Duke Luke, done and sired." Ben then headed off and Leia wanted to laugh despite the seriousness of the situation.
Leia found Rey at a cruiser as she was about to lead a party to the prison block.
"He's trying." Leia began the conversation as Rey looked up to her. "Not everyone knows what it's like to be king." Rey knew Leia is trying to be the peace keeper as usual.
"I thought I killed Bleys," Rey started. "He beat Ben and nearly killed him." Rey paused again.
"You wanted the revenge." Leia confirmed what Rey would not. "I understand because I would too, he's my son and you know now as a mother you would do anything for them." Rey nodded to her reasoning. "But he shouldn't have lied to you." She then got closer to her. "I'm going with, make sure the security is updated before leaving."
Ben sat in the communications room looking at the screen seeing Rey's cruiser leaving with some X-Wings flowing behind her. Ben then looked over seeing Luke sitting down next to him and watched the last X-Wing leave the hanger.
"Duke Luke?" Luke began the conversation and Ben leaned back in his seat. "Not sure how titles work."
"Neither do I." Ben added meaning he wasn't entirely sure either. "You won't be Duke Luke."
"Duke of Tatoonine, how's that?" Luke asked.
"You can't be Duke of a system just of land or country within a system." Ben answered.
"I thought you didn't know how titles worked?" Luke threw back at him and Ben looked shrugging to the response. "I know what you studied Ben, I made sure you studied it. You were studying to be a Jedi and a possible king." Ben looked back to Luke. "I saw the notes Leia would send you."
"I didn't know why at the time." Ben added.
"Leia always knew something could change and needed the only heir to Alderran to be ready." Luke had a slight smile. "You bared a burden and I am sorry for what happened. I should have protected you."
Rey piloted the cruiser into the prison hanger and waited for the X-Wings to touch down as well.
"I'll stay here and keep open communications," Leia began and handed Rey a communicator and she took it. "One hour and then we evacuate the rest of the prisoners and build a new cell block." Rey nodded and headed out. As Rey stepped off the cruiser as the rest of the fighters followed her. As she looked around the emergency lights flashed and the generator was on meaning Bleys cut the power. As of now all communications were jammed except the private line created. Hopefully they managed to cut off communications before Bleys could get any signal out to the Order.
Just then the water sprinklers went off and Rey turned to the fighters.
"He knows we're here," Rey began to give out orders. "Pair up and keep in touch." Rey continued as the fighters listened while the sprinklers poured down water. "Bleys is too dangerous so don't engage alone, contain only."
"What makes us think he's still here?" A fighter has a good question.
"It's raining in space," Rey answered meaning yes Bleys is waiting. "Let's get started." And they began to start. Leia watched the hanger bay get locked down as the fighters led by Rey left.
"Leia to Base," Leia called.
"Go ahead General." A fighter called through.
"Log mission time." Leia gave the order. Ben was in the room as heard the call and looked to the time. Luke could see Ben would stare at that clock to the nano second. "Bleys isn't going to make this easy, have back up ready to mobilize." Leia added.
"Copy that General." The fighter confirmed and started to give out the order. Luke continued to look at Ben realizing the young boy that left to the man he saw before him were different people. The war has placed a burden on him on both sides but he's come out from it stronger than Luke could have imagined.
Rey kept her wits about her as she walked down to the isolation area. The red lights kept flashing with the fire sprinklers going. A fighter was going to work on stopping that but Rey knew this was to hide Bleys. Rey then went to her COMM link.
"Everyone report back to the ship." She ordered. Leia heard the order from the cruiser knowing something was wrong.
The fighters were back at the cruiser as ordered as Rey pulled up the prison base on the screen.
"All prisoners are accounted for." One fighter commented.
"How do we know he's still here?" Another fighter asked and Rey finished typing looking at the screen.
"No prisoner cruisers or escape pods have left this place in the last three days." Rey answered and this was all both confusing and disturbing. Bleys was waiting. Rey typed in more information and sighed. "A transmission was sent though, just a short time ago before we arrived."
"What kind of transmission?" Leia asked but she knew.
"Scrambled but an S.O.S." Rey answered looking to Leia.
"We got problems." Another fighter added.
"Alert the base and start the lock down process." Leia ordered and Rey began the process. "Send them a warning signal too." Rey stopped typing and looked up. "Encrypt it as well."
"If we get into any serious trouble then they won't come." A fighter added.
"The S.O.S that was sent out, any indication who picked it up?" Leia asked and Rey began to look.
"Nothing yet but," Rey didn't finish, everyone knew who the S.O.S was for. That's why Leia does not want anyone from the base to come. If they do and the Order ends up picking up the S.O.S then they're whole cover could be blown. "We flush Bleys out." Rey began to formulate a plan as she finished the signal and sent it. "We locked down each hall and give Bleys only one way in or out."
"Seems a lot easier said than done." A fighter commented.
"Groups of three, lead him here." Rey finished the ordered and everyone nodded.
Ben sat quietly at the computers but a flashing light came up. Luke was interested as Ben went to play the message but it came through garbled. Ben furrowed his eyebrows as he scooted closer to the keyboard. Finn and Poe noticed something from afar and came over to see what was happening.
"All weapons systems and tech to be placed on minimal power." Poe read the signal. "Active code 626..."
"What the hell?" Finn asked.
"Signed by Admiral Rey and Co-signed by General Leia Organa." Poe finished.
"Code 626?" Luke asked.
"Full base lockdown, it means we're about to be under attack." Finn answered the Jedi. "But why? We haven't received any proximity alert." Ben was already grabbing a COMM and went to radio in but it static.
"Is that supposed to do that?" Luke asked again.
"Communications are cut." Ben stated and threw the COMM link to the desk. There was more to the message as he was trying to figure it out as it played but it meant nothing from they could hear or read.
"Excuse me your royal highness," 3PO came in and Ben sighed.
"Etiquette and protocol." Luke reminded Ben just of 3PO's main function. Since becoming king 3PO address Ben in this manner.
"The code seems to be more of a...warning signal." 3PO went on. Everyone looked at one another.
"Be more specific." Ben demanded.
"Well, your royal highness it is the overlay of the signal. It is stating for all to stay away, no further investigation." 3PO summed up.
"It's not just for us," Poe added and looked Ben. "They're expecting the Order to show up."
"Damnit." Finn muttered with a sigh. "We have orders though." Finn reminded the Admiral knowing Ben won't refuse an order even in protest. Ben sat there for a moment knowing if he doesn't follow through; when both Leia and Rey return he'll be in trouble. Ben reached for the keyboard and began to type and as he finished the sirens went off indicating the code 626. He then sat back not liking being in the dark and not knowing what is happening at the prison block.
At the prison block Leia remained on the cruiser monitoring the computer as Rey led the fighters back in. The sprinkler system was still going on and that seemed like it was low priority for now. If anything this was Bleys' way of causing smoke and mirrors. Rey walked down a corridor with two more fighters and most of the cells were empty. She did come to one cell in particular seeing Hux was sitting there.
Rey punched in a code and stepped inside. Hux stood up and had sly smile.
"He was here wasn't he." Rey stated and Hux didn't have to answer. She reached out and grabbed him and forced him out. "Good, maybe you still hold some weight in the Order." She may have something to bargain with.
"Hall three closed." A fighter announced over the COMM. Rey then pressed a button.
"Hall eight closed." She informed everyone and they moved on.
"Hall five closed." Another fighter called out. Then Rey ignited her saber which signaled to the fighters to draw their weapons and they did. They formed up and looked around but there was nothing until they heard faint blasters and yelling from afar. Rey then looked up.
"He's using the air ducts." She muttered and got on the COMM. "He's using the ventilation system." She warned the crew. Shutting the corridors was useless.
"Rey, everyone get back to the main area." Leia ordered and they did. Rey grabbed Hux and forced him to run with her. At the cruiser Leia grabbed a blaster to help if needed. She looked out the window seeing the fighters trickling in and then saw Rey. Rey threw Hux to the ground and looked around. She then deflected some blaster rays and the fighters began to fire back.
Bleys stood there holding up his hands holding the rays in place. He then quickly moved out of the way dodging them. Rey came up to the front of the group twirling her saber as she advanced to Bleys. Bleys tossed the blaster away. Rey slammed down her saber as he dodged it. He then used the Force to push Rey away. The fighters behind her began to fire at Bleys and in an instant he was down. Leia rushed out of the cruiser looking at the body as his blood began to pool in the water.
But this wasn't right, something wasn't right. Rey then jumped at Leia pulling her down and rolled to a landing leg of the cruiser. A TIE fighter was shooting right into the hanger. The fighters never had a chance to fire back. Rey and Leia reminded behind the cruiser's leg as the firing died down. Rey peered out just a bit seeing the TIE fighter hovering for a moment then it left.
"They're here." Rey whispered and Leia nodded. The two began to look around seeing what they could do in terms of hiding. Rey then pointed straight ahead to a small vent they could quickly get to. They stayed low to the ground as Rey pulled at the vent and helped Leia in first. Rey then climbed into the cramp space and they looked up the ventilation shaft. It wasn't too high up to climb. Rey helped Leia up and over and then she climbed up and they started to crawl away.
A small First Order cruiser came into the docking area and black troopers began to spread out with Antar just behind them and Hux slowly stood up and his eyes widen seeing the Supreme Leader. It's been a long time and Antar looked as if he was deteriorating. His skin was paler, there was even a small open area.
"Supreme, Supreme Leader." Hux managed to get out as Antar faced him. Antar then began to scan the area and found Bleys and he walked over to him. The Sith was dead in the water but Antar knew Bleys completed his mission.
"Take Hux on the cruiser." Antar ordered some of the troopers. "Find her." He ordered the rest and they began down the halls.
In the air ducts Rey and Leia sat quietly. Leia had her blaster ready and Rey holding her saber. From the distance they heard something coming. Rey positioned herself just slightly over a vent and then jumped down. The black troopers began to fire at her but she blocked the blaster rays. Leia came down from a lower vent and began to fire at them from behind. The small group of black troopers were down but how many more to go? Rey and Leia then took off and closed that hall off.
The two made it to the small communications room and could see everything now. They decided to keep the sprinklers and emergency lights going it could keep them covered. Rey sat down and began to closed more doors trapping some of the troopers to give them a fair fight.
"We can try and make it to this escape pod," Leia pointed out. "Seems like a clear shot from here." Rey nodded in agreement and began to closed down certain doors so they could run that way. They will run into some troopers but it did thin the heard out."It's now or never." Leia pointed out and Rey grabbed her saber.
The two ran down the hall and Leia held up her blaster already taking aim. Rey ran ahead and ignited her saber taking out the troopers. Leia then swung her blaster at a trooper slamming at it's face smashing the helmet. Rey then looked to Leia and in spilt second they traded weapons. Rey has forgotten, Leia did train as a Jedi for a while before Ben was born. She wasn't as refined but she could handle the saber well enough to take out the troopers. They then gave back each other's weapons and continued down the hallway.
But then the door shut cutting them off. Rey took a stand in front of Leia as something was coming in from behind. They stood there for a moment as red blade glowed a bit brighter than the red lights around them. Rey held up her blade knowing who she was about to face off. Leia held up her blaster ready to fight.
"Don't engage." Leia told Rey the first rule. The red blade then came right at Rey and she blocked it. This was the first time she has come in contact with Antar, face to face. Rey held out her hand and Force pushed him back. He came back again with more force and Rey held the line. Leia took aim and fired. This would create some wiggle room for Rey to keep an upper hand on Antar. Rey blocked a few more hits and ducked slamming her blade down but he managed to step back. Rey stayed low to the ground and twisted herself to get behind him.
Antar blocked a few blaster rays and advanced to Rey while she held a ready stands.
"Solo has trained you very well." Antar gave her credit and she twirled her saber much like Ben does to show she was ready for more.
Ben was rushing down the hall of the base as everything was in lockdown mode. Finn, Poe, Chewy and Luke followed in behind him. Luke could sense it too. It was a darkness that he has felt once before and he kept up with nephew as they all headed to the main hanger. The door was shut and locked and Poe went to work on it as Ben started to board the Falcon.
Leia continue to fire at Antar trying to give Rey some help. Rey stood her ground as Antar paced in front of them. Antar knew this wasn't going to be an easy fight to take on Rey. He also didn't consider having Leia here. But that wasn't going to stop him. He could feel it, Ben was no where close, they were on their own. He then deactivated his saber and tossed it and held out his hands a bolts of lightening came out. Rey quickly went to deflect the bolts but she didn't realize just how strong they were and lost control of her saber. Leia continued to fire at Antar and he sent the bolts to Leia and she flew to the wall. Rey went to call her saber back to her when Antar shot the bolts to her and sent her flying as well.
The Falcon pulled into the hanger as Ben, Luke, Finn, Poe and Chewy exited out and looked around the hanger. Ben saw the dead fighters and found Bleys dead among them. The group headed to the Resistance cruiser doing a quick sweep. Ben left and they went into the prison only to be cut off at corridor after corridor. They began to start down other halls looking.
"Rey!" Ben yelled as that is all he could think of doing. He couldn't feel her or his mother. "Rey!" He yelled again and broke away from the others. He then continued to run where he could feeling faint and panicked. He continued down a long hallway splashing through the water searching in the near dark. Just then something caught his attention and he slid down into the water and grabbed it. It was Rey's saber. He felt his chest getting heavy, his vision tunneling. He then looked a little further seeing a blaster in the rising waters. That darkness, that fire and hate he's managed to keep down for so long was creeping in.
"Hux is gone!" Poe's voice called out and Ben felt Luke's presence near him. Ben stood up and began to walk and Luke saw it. Ben and Kylo Ren are very two distinctly different people and Kylo Ren was coming out. "Admiral," Poe began but the walls began to crack behind Ben and pull in as he walked away.
"Scramble the fighters, began tactical plans." Ben ordered as he left and headed back to the main hanger and went to the cruiser. As he headed for the pilot's chair he saw something, a disk and it wasn't a Resistance's tech. He picked up the disk and took it to a computer and put it in and a HOLOGRAM appeared of Antar.
"Solo," Antar began. "It's time to get off that throne. I and Palpatine seek an audience with you. It is time for the heir apparent to Vader to finally fulfill what Skywalker never could." The transmission ended leaving Ben there. Luke was behind Ben seeing the message and felt his own heart in his throat. Ben then turned to his uncle but what Luke saw was completely unexpected. He thought he was going to see rage, a fire and hate. But instead he saw calm and almost resolve. Luke got closer to his nephew and placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded. Ben wasn't going to do this alone.