Zer0: (Holds out Kylo Ren action figure) You will never win, Rey! I have the High Ground! (Holds out Rey action figure) You underestimate my Sueness! AHH! The Sueness!
Bio: (Enters the studio) What the hell are you doing?
Zer0: AHHH! (Quickly hides toys) Nothing! I was uh..scripting. I was planning the script. (Bio: Riiight. Anyway, welcome back, fellow Star Wars fans!) Hello Everybody! How is everyone doing, feeling okay? Washing your hands? Not throwing molotovs at Wendy's? Good! I think we should just head over to the review responses.
TheChamp123: Thanks man! We always appreciate the feedback, more reviews give us more reason to write hearing feedback (Positive or negative) of what you guys think of the stories. Agreed, we'll try and fit the prequel memes, nothing wrong with that. Oh don't worry, I think you will like what we have planned, or not it's up to you.
Spiral-Voltron-Zero0Q1: Thanks! Always appreciating the feedback, and yes I apologize for the delay of DMC stories. Been working on the timeline for A Devil's Justice. (Bio: I've also been pestering him to play Ghost of Tsushima) WMC is going through some rewriting here and there, and I am working on a Bestiary for the story. So I hope you enjoy it.
Canadiangunner11: Lol. No, no it would not be out of place. Yeah, IG is a clutch god. Fun fact, Rhasar got a Rampage Medal, true story. I think we made Supreme's Stomp a meme now…..Oh well (Stomp, Stomp!).
Emoryjmorril: Thanks. Don't be afraid to ask what you would like or don't like. We want feedback from everyone. We can't promise we will do everything because most is already set. But hey, little things never hurt.
SupremeSongLeader: Huzzah! We live! (Stomp, Stomp!) Hey it's okay to write your speculations now, no one's gonna stop you. We always enjoy the speculations, or just theories people make (Bio: Surprised no one's commented on the flashback scene with Rey's dad). Yeah, the battle wasn't really meant to be very long, since it was more in focus on the characters. I'm glad you enjoyed tho. Yeah, I figured you meant Pyre, and thanks. Bio and I have always felt like (And this also includes my solo stories) that the characters are only as good as their villains. Unless the villain is a one time villain like in the MCU, then whatever he's evil. But with characters in Star Wars the villains must be at least intimidating to be a good story villain, and Hux was fine imo in the first movie….but we all know how that ended (Bio: Dragged through the mud like Snoke dragged him across the floor). You will get a lot more from Hux in the second movie, where I feel he will be at his strongest (Bio: Alongside another hopefully great character we've got brewing for that story). We'll get more into our interpretation of the bad guys in the commentary. Alright, Supreme, let's not attack Creator anymore. He's done, he's not reading the story as far as we know and we shouldn't be attacking him. He already made the response and it is over. We appreciate the support but let's not go too deep in attacking people (I might sound like a hypocrite by the time I go on my rant, but I'll explain that when it happens. It's now less like a rant and more of my view on everything on Star Wars as of now.). (Bio: We'll go more in depth on our views of Star Wars and our issues with the Sequel Trilogy as a whole during the commentary) The other guy….who knows what that guy reason to review other than thinking Bio is once again my alternate persona. (Bio: Once again, I'm real.) Thanks again, I am really happy you are enjoying our story, Bio and I really do take the time to make sure this story is written in our vision, but still following the laws of the Star Wars Universe (Adding upon it of course, hopefully not breaking it) while still enjoyable.
Bridd: LOL. Yeah, that's my bad. The name isn't really an Earth name, and it isn't his real name. Thanks.
Thedarkwolf95: Yes, yes I am fully aware she would be 70 in Disney's canon. Good thing this FanFiction and I already planned it out. Come on dude, you don't actually think I am gonna have an older lady bone a younger man. If that is your only reason for not reading you have strange standards. (Bio: Besides, I'm pretty sure there was some power in the Force that let Jedi slow their aging.) We'll look that up later.
Zer0: Alright, with that said, Bio take it away.
Bio: We own nothing here apart from our OCs. All rights belong to their owners and such. You know the drill by now.
Zer0: Ladies and Gents. Star Wars.
Defeat.
That was one word to describe the look on their faces, Leia noted, as the group just stared at the spot the Star Destroyer was last seen. They stood there for a few minutes now, not a word from any of them. Arthon was letting out low growls, before throwing the blaster aside and picking up a rock and throwing it into a pillar, he ran into a pillar and punched a hole straight through it. He punched the pillar until it was nothing but pebbles and dust, once it settled Arthon dusted himself off growling. The group said nothing, what could they do?
Rhasar had removed his helmet, and was staring at it, his face barely moving since he took it off, with the only sign that he was moving being his clenching of the Lightsaber. Karine stood beside him stoic as the Mandalorian, but her lower lip quivered every so often. Finn stood on Rhasar's left with his eyes closed, letting out long shallow breaths. IG was unable to show any emotion, but the droid was simply looking at each and every flesh bag in front of him. Leia looked off to the side to see the young scrapper girl holding onto her staff, tears falling down her face, shoulders shaking as she cried. Han, Leia, Lando, and Chewie stood far from the group giving them space. Leia felt dread, for the first time in a long time watching as the one key to Luke was just taken away from them. She could feel the shame and anger within Han, because they both knew they were too weak to save him, or stop the one who had taken Damien.
Kylo Ren.
The man who had been the bane of their existence, the man who was the main reasons behind Luke's disappearance, how the New Jedi Order was destroyed, how the First Order has gained such a large advantage in the outer rims, the man who was once a boy.
A boy who was once their son.
"General Solo! Senator!" The four turned around to see Ackbar walk towards them. Resistance soldiers were picking up wounded or dead and gathering any supplies they could find.
"Admiral, how bad is it?" Leia asked as the Mon Calamari stood before them.
"We've lost over a hundred soldiers, three X-Wings, the main command center has been destroyed but the base is still functional. I have already moved all operations to the second command center. We have made contact with the Raddus, they are within the Hoth System in a fight with a First Order Star Destroyer. They will not be able to help us evacuate if need be." Ackbar said, a sigh escaping his throat.
"Things just get better and better, don't they Han?" Lando asked, turning to his oldest friend.
"Wish I saw it that way." Han said, rolling his eyes. "What do you think…..Leia?" Han turned back to his wife, who was staring up at the stars.
"I still can't believe it, after all I wanted to say, all I could do was simply watch in fear." Leia mused to herself as Han reached for her shoulder. He was surprised when Leia hugged him, as tight as she possibly could. "We saw him, Han. We saw him and couldn't do anything about it."
"I know. I know, Leia. We'll figure something out, we always have." Han said, comforting his wife. He looked at the crew of smugglers, and although he wasn't a force user, he knew they were in pain.
"Did the First Order find the droid?" Ackbar asked.
"No. They got the kid, Damien." Lando answered, a look of surprise on Ackbar's face.
"The smuggler? Why would they want him? Why even leave when they had us in a corner? It just doesn't make sense, nor is it strategic." Ackbar said, rubbing his chin.
"The map."
Everyone looked to see Finn, who scratched his head. "He saw the map to Skywalker, like the rest of us. Anyone of us could've been taken if he found us." He explained.
"But why go after Damien…..Oh." Karine asked, before suddenly realizing why.
"There's also the whole Force user part. Something tells me that's also something he took into consideration when taking him." Finn said.
"But why leave us? Even if he has the map, Ren must know we will stop them." Ackbar said as the group slowly turned to them, save for Rhasar and Arthon.
"Stop them?" Arthon asked, followed by a low hiss. "They just hit you right where you live. You don't have the proper numbers to face the First Order. How are you going to 'stop them'?" The Trandoshan asked.
"We've been backed into the worst odds before. First we must find their base, and we will build a plan to take them out!" Ackbar said. "Once we complete the map, we will find Luke an-!"
"They're probably counting on you to do that!" Arthon said, his face twitching in annoyance. "They're likely waiting for you to come attack them! You really think finding their base is going to help change things?"
"And what do you propose we do, Trandoshan? Run away with our tails between our legs?! I'd think not, I'd rather die fighting then running for the next credit." Ackbar growled.
"Arthon, enough." Karine tried to say, but Arthon continued walking towards the Admiral.
"There's a difference between a fight and suicide, Mon Calamari." Arthon sneered.
"Ah yes, I should be the one taking lessons from the ones who know all there is about fighting? Tell me, Trandoshan, was it before or after you dishonorably captured your quarry did you force them to fight or die?" Ackbar asked, a hint of venom in his voice as the two stared face to face. Arthon growled as Ackbar glared with as much hatred as the Trandoshan.
"Admiral, Arthon! Now isn't the tim-!" Karine tried to cut between them but the two would not back down. Trandoshans and Wookiees had a very known hatred for each other's race, but many would never talk about the unspoken hatred between Mon Calamari and Trandoshans. It was more of a prideful battle, but one deeply hated the other over which was superior.
"Honor? What use is it to me? It's done nothing but drag my people closer to the grave." Arthon said.
"Enough!" Both turned to Leia, who glared at the two older beings, stepping between the two. "Now is not the time to be arguing! We have already lost much, we need to focus and stop fighting like children." Admiral Ackbar sighed and looked down in shame. Arthon merely snarled and looked away. "Ackbar is right about one thing, we can't just sit here while another Death Star is aimed at the Galaxy."
"Way I see it, we only got one plan of action." All turned to Rhasar, who had turned his gaze from his helmet to the Lightsaber. "That Starkiller Base...given how valuable it likely is to their operations, I'd be willing to bet that's where they've taken Damien."
"He's right," Han said, stepping forward. "We need to get Damien out of the base, while blowing that place sky high."
"Sounds great, but we got one problem." Karine started, "We have no idea where this Starkiller Base is."
"Ilum."
It was Finn who had spoken, with his answer sounding familiar to some.
"Ilum?" Rhasar asked. He received a nod.
"From what I read, it's a planet filled to the brim with some kind of crystal. Really powerful crystals, and they're used to power the station." Finn said.
"The Ilum System is in the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim." IG stated, its eyes blinking blue as it searched the information for the system. "A frozen tundra that is zero percent inhabitable."
"Until now." Leia said, shaking her head. "We need to make a plan, but first we need to head inside and get you all checked up. You'll need to regain your strength if you want to get away from the First Order." Leia said, turning around and walking away with the Han and the others following behind. Rhasar said nothing as did the others, before a voice spoke up.
"Come on guys," Karine said, "We'll get you another ship." Karine said guiding Arthon and IG with the group. Finn sighed before reluctantly following after the group with BB behind him leaving two alone. Rhasar looked over at Rey, who slowly walked up to him. The two said nothing, the Mandalorian noticed her eyes watering up again.
"Re-!" Before he could finish her name, the scavenger lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his back and burying her face in his chest plate. He once again just stood there awkwardly as the girl cried in his chest.
"I've…..I've never felt so weak before, Rhasar. I finally made a friend in this horrible place and….and he is gone." Rey cried. Rhasar said nothing, staring at the crying girl, before wrapping an arm around her, patting her chest. "I…..I have to do something."
"I…..I….." He stuttered, unsure what to say to the girl. Rey looked up at the Mando as he pulled her away, the Mando looked down at the Lightsaber, before back at Rey. She was a simple girl, someone who Damien had shown kindness and happiness being the only person who has ever done that. Rey wiped her tears away as Rhasar slipped his helmet on. "Come on, let's get you patched up." Rhasar said, dragging the scavenger along, Rey stared at the Mandalorian. She couldn't see it, but she felt the determination in Rhasar, and that he was willing to kill everyone in the Galaxy to get Damien back.
"Oh, thank the Force I found all of you." C-3PO said walking up to the large group. "It was a good thing I hid and kept R2's frame safe. It was quite a clo-Oh, where is everyone going?" 3PO asked, trying to catch up to everyone.
(Hangar)
Poe wiped the sweat off his forehead, his helmet laid in his lap as the latch to the cockpit lid opened up. He was met with sounds of soldiers running around him and cheering from some pilots. He exited his ship and dropped to the ground, with a sigh of relief. Sure parts of the base were destroyed, but they got the First Order running away, that was a sign of victory right there.
BOOP-BWEEP!
Poe looked down and smiled seeing BB chirp happily, rolling towards its partner and friend.
"Hey, BB!" Poe said going to his knee and rubbing the droid's frame, BB making a strange vibration noise. The fact BB was still here showed that the bucketheads didn't get their hands on him was another victory. "I'm so glad you're okay. I need to thank Rey and Damien for keeping an eye on you." At the mention of the two, BB let out a small low whistle making Poe curious. "What's wrong, buddy?" Before BB could answer footsteps made Poe look up to see Finn walking towards him, the pilot looked around Finn to see the others following Han and Leia.
"Guess I was wrong. You're not such a bad pilot." Finn said.
"Well, the TIE was nice and all, but the X-Wing is my true passion. Nothing beats that." Poe said. He looked around, seeing most of the group was missing. "Where's everyone gone? We won, right? Shouldn't we be celebrating?" Finn lowered his head in response.
"...Kylo Ren took Damien." He said. Poe's eyes widened, the mere mention of Kylo made his heart sink, and memories of his torture ran through his head making him swallow his spit.
"No…" Poe whispered. Damien might have been the key to finding Luke….and now he was gone. Poe shook his head, he didn't have time to mourn, he needed to get ready and take the fight to them. "Come on, we need to get out there and get the kid back."
"It's not that easy." Finn said. "They'll have taken him to Starkiller Base. That's currently one of the most heavily fortified assets in the First Order." He said.
"Finn! Poe!" The two turned around to see Lando. "Leia wants everyone in the base, most importantly you kid." Lando said, gesturing to Finn, before walking back towards the base. Poe and Finn looked at each other before quickly following after him. Once they made it inside, Finn could feel the glare from some soldiers staring at him as he passed by, he hated it, but he didn't have time for them. The two made it over to Leia who was speaking with Han, Lando, and Ackbar. Rhasar and the others were being checked over by medics.
"Leia, what's the plan? How are we gonna get Damien back?" Poe asked, Leia turning to him.
"Hold on, Poe. We can't just run in blasters blazing, we need a plan." Leia said, turning to Finn. "And that is where you come in...Finn, right?"
"Yeah." Finn said. "You need a way in the base." It wasn't a question.
"We need much more than that, we need everything you know about Starkiller Base." Leia said. Finn was the one key to getting a way inside, and hopefully a way to destroy the damn thing. If he didn't have anything, then all hope is lost. "Do you know how the base works?"
"I can design the schematic of the base. I spent some time there when it was being made. Can't promise it'll be exact, but it should be close enough." Finn said. He had spent years on the Base as it was nearly complete, he knew many of the barracks and as a high ranking soldier he knew many areas that served as command centers and important locations.
"Ackbar, take Finn and show him to a nearby console." Leia ordered, Ackbar nodded before gesturing Finn to follow him. Once the two left Leia turned to see Han with a smug look on his face.
"What?"
"Maybe you should have been the General." Han said, making Leia roll her eyes.
"As fun as this is, shouldn't we be getting the fleet ready?" Poe asked. He can't just stand here and let the kid be taken, their one chance at victory and it is most likely be snuffed out beneath them.
"Poe, we don't know what we are getting ourselves into, we need a plan and not a quick draw that lets out the rathtars." Han said with a look of amusement on his face.
"We survived that, as you saw!" Poe said. Lando laughed as Leia rolled her eyes before gesturing the two to follow her. Poe walked past them and towards the rag tag group of smugglers, crossing his arms as they looked up at him.
"You got something to say, Dameron?" Rhasar asked, one hand clutching the Lightsaber, and the other hanging near one of his blasters. Compared to Rey who had a medic wiping the blood off her head, all he needed was a scan and a patch on his arm.
"I heard about Damien. We'll get him back." Poe said. Rhasar merely nodded in response. Meanwhile, Leia was watching as Han was speaking with an officer. Her mind wandered else, to Damien. The boy…..she felt something familiar about the boy and it had been so long since she had felt it. Since she had lost everything that night, the night Snoke took everything from her. She knew, Han knew, that it was the Sith Lord Snoke, where he came from she didn't know, that transformed Kylo into the dark lord he is and the destruction of the Jedi.
The death of so many, the younglings, the masters.….him…...Mara. Oh how she missed Mara, the powerful Hand turned Jedi and wife of Luke. She smiled at the memories of when the woman was originally their enemy working with the Imperial Force 99 to kill Luke. Over the years she came to understand Luke and came to his aid at the battle of Vader and Palpatine at the Battle of Endor. Her death tore her world apart, but it was his death that destroyed everything she held onto. Han, however, couldn't give up and went searching for Luke when she nearly gave up. It's one of the reasons she loved that scruffy Nerf herder, he never backed down until he was forced to. But over the years she saw it was getting to him, and she knew he wasn't showing it but he too is in pain over their loss.
"Han, a word." Leia said, gaining Han's attention as he dismissed a soldier before following his wife into a nearby console that no one was around. Once they were alone, Leia turned to Han.
"Han, we have to get Damien back."
"Don't worry, I'll get the kid back an-!"
"It's not just that, Han." Leia said, shaking her head. "There is something about the boy, something I haven't sensed since…..since."
"Them." Han finished, already knowing what she meant. "I miss them too, Leia. But they are gone, Snoke made sure of that." Han said, venom in his voice at the mention of Snoke. A being so powerful, and architect of Luke's Jedi Order downfall. "I miss our son-!"
"He is still out there, Han. I sense it, I know it." Leia said, Han nodded in his head.
"I know, Leia. I…..I don't know what I can do about him though." Han said. Leia already knew of who he meant, kissing his cheek.
"You're his father, Han. We couldn't save what we lost, Luke…..Mara…..him, but we still have hope. There is still light in him, I know it." Leia said. Han was about to speak when a lieutenant walked over.
"General Solo, Lando wishes to speak with you." Han turned back to his wife who smiled, Solo nodded before walking over towards Lando. He knew deep in his heart he had lost someone very important, but he still had him.
He still had his son.
(Starkiller Base)
Damien groaned as he slowly started to gain consciousness, his eyes fluttering awake. His vision was blurry, a blinding light obscuring his view, and he couldn't cover his eyes. His hands and legs were bound by metal cuffs, he felt cold. His vision became clearer and everything became shapes and color, before his eyes widen, realizing he is bound to a tilted torture table within what he assumed was the First Order Base. Where he was, he had no idea, but he knew he had to get out of here. Damien quickly started pulling his hands trying to slip out and pull.
"You're finally awake." Damien's eyes widened, turning his head towards the corner of the room. There, sitting in a meditative position, was Kylo Ren. His lightsaber laid in front of him as the linear visor stared at Damien, like he was trying to reach into his very soul. "I apologize if it's uncomfortable." He didn't quite sound sincere when he said it.
"Where…..where am I?" Damien asked, his voice sore from his outburst on Takodana.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Kylo said. He let out a small breath, then spoke once more. "You've proven to be quite the troublesome pursuit. But there was only ever one outcome to this." He said. Damien's mind raced in fear as he was now at the mercy of the dark lord, when he realized if he was here, then his friends were….
"My friends, are they….?"
"The murderers? The thieves? The mercenaries? You call them friends?" Despite the filter, he sounded like he had trouble believing him. "You'll be happy to know I've no idea. But people of their professions tend to kill their friends. Why would you align yourself with the likes of them?" Damien didn't answer, his eyes staring at the dark lord, Kylo merely huffed in annoyance.
"Why? Why did you capture me? I have nothing of value, I'm just a smuggler, I'm not a Jedi." Damien said, trying to pry his arms free from the confines.
"And yet, you're capable of using the Force. You HAVE used it. And you're more valuable than you realize. So you can quit playing the idiot with me." His tone held no room for debate. "You know what I want. Or have you forgotten our earlier exchange?"
"I…..I haven't forgotten." Damien said, memories flashed before him: D'Qar, the forest, Rey. His eyes narrowed not knowing if she was alive or not, he balled his fist in anger as he stared at the dark lord. Kylo made note of his anger, the dark side boiling within him, but it was nothing but a small spark. He stood up, now facing Damien at his full height, the darkness of his clothing clashing against the lights in the room, giving him an almost ghostly visage.
"You want to kill me." He said, almost sounding...curious. "Your thoughts are clear to see...I can feel your anger." He said.
"It's hard not to be angry at a mad man who has been chasing me across systems, a madman who has killed hundreds for what? A madman who….who hides behind a mask." Damien growled, trying his best to taunt the dark lord. He knew it was insane, but he knew Kylo would have killed him already if he wanted too.
"Compared to a coward who always runs?" Was the icy response from Kylo Ren. Damien said nothing, a frown on his lips as he knew he had no retort, how could he disagree with the dark lord on that. "You hold great power, but you don't use it. The things you've faced should mean nothing with your abilities, and yet, all you've done is run. The moment you see a threat, you turn tail and flee to the farthest system. Flee with the band of miscreants you call friends." Kylo said. "But you cannot see. My goals are beyond your understanding. What you see as madness...I see as a necessary action to get closer to what I want." Kylo stood still for a moment...before he raised his hands toward his mask. With a hiss, it became undone, allowing him to remove the piece from his head.
"I know who and what I am...can you say the same?" Damien's eyes widened, staring at the man before him. He was expecting a scarred figure with eyes of darkness, an alien like creature with spikes and blood red eyes. Instead, a man stood before him, a man around Rhasar's age albeit a year older. His pale skin was flawless, no scars adorned his face, his deep brown eyes narrowed as he glared at the boy, his raven hair reached at the end of his neck. Damien couldn't believe it, this was Kylo Ren? The most feared being in the Outer Rim? And yet….he seemed so familiar. Damien grunted in pain as memories flashed through his mind.
"Come on, Ben!" A child laughed as they raced through a field, both laughing as they clashed sticks before collapsing to the ground, giggling.
"Gah." Damien grunted as his headache became far worse, Kylo made note of this as Damien controlled his breathing. Damien shook his head, before turning to Kylo, taking deep breaths.
"Who…..who are you?" Damien croaked.
"You really don't know, do you?" Kylo asked, his eyes narrowed.
"Should I?" Damien asked, Kylo said nothing before he slowly started walking around the smuggler, eyeing him from the corner of his eye. "Were…..were we close?" Damien asked, seeing as how Kylo knew so much, he must have known him.
"We were both Padawans, once." He said, his eyes holding a distant look to them, as if remembering something from a lifetime ago. "Students for Skywalker's new order. Many of whom showed promise...though some did not live to see it fulfilled." He said. Damien's eyes widened in realization, in what Kylo meant by it.
"You killed them." Damien stated, knowing it was stupid to even ask but he was to shock to hold it in. "You killed them all."
"Only those who tried to stop me. Few shared my vision...those that did have become part of something bigger than themselves." He said. "I did not enjoy killing them...but it had to be done." He said, his eyes matching the conviction in his voice. Damien growled in pain as more memories flashed: Fire, a temple burning, Padawans dead across a field, red and blue clashed in the rain.
"Why? Why did you do it?"
"Because I'm tired of the cycle repeating itself." Kylo said. "Since the beginning, the Light and the Dark have been at war through various proxies. The Old Republic, Revan and Malak, Palpatine and the Clone Wars, the Rebellion and the Empire, Skywalker and Vader." Every word he uttered grew with irritation and disdain, as if the thought of it angered him. No...DISGUSTED him. "And now it seeks to play its games again with you and I." He said. Damien stared at Kylo in shock, he was however confused on what he meant. Why him? What part did he play in all of this? All of this was new to him and yet….deep down he must have known it….a long time ago.
"That didn't answer my question. Why did you betray Luke? Why are you a part of the First Order? Why did you leave my friends alive?" Damien asked, finally, Kylo turned to Damien and stared at the younger man.
"He didn't have the stomach for what was needed. A pawn of the Light, he always was. Called what I believed a path to the Dark Side...foolish to the end." He said, his eyes narrowed, as if what he remembered hurt him, like a betrayal. "This war means nothing to me. The Resistance, the First Order...they hold no meaning in the grand scheme of my desires. Merely means to an end...as are your friends." He said. Damien's eyes narrowed, he hated the idea of this man using his friends like pawns, it disgusted him.
"So you killed the New Jedi Order for a taste of the dark side?" Damien asked, venom laced in his voice.
"No...I killed them to begin my path...to TRUE POWER." Kylo said. "Not the corruption of the Dark, nor the dogmatic devotion to the Light...the world I envision has no room for either." As he finished, Kylo lifted his hand in front of Damien's face. Damien knew exactly what he was planning, but before he could try and stop him, Damien's head was flung back onto the table. He felt the pressure burn within his skull, a spectral hand ripping through his mind, Damien grunted in pain. "And you will give me what I want." He said with his eyes narrowed in focus.
"I-I told you! I….I don't have anything of value!" Damien cried as Kylo continued to probe the boy's mind.
"So you say, but I know what you hide." He said, pushing more of his power into his action. "You have seen the map, you hold the key to my goals...and I will NOT. BE. DENIED." He said, every word increasing the power he exuded into this gesture. Damien growled as memories flashed in his head, when he was nearly eaten by Arthon, when he lost the bet for Karine's race, how he was kidnapped by Rhasar…..and how he was a Padawan. He saw it all, for a single moment he saw a life that was once his. A temple, padawans training, and before him was a younger Kylo Ren, smiling as they trained. His last memories were of Rey, her smile and the last thing he saw was fear in her eyes. Damien eyes shot open, lifting his head, he growled in anguish as the Force burned within him. Kylo was impressed as he felt his hold Damien weaken, the power with Damien bubbling within waiting to be released.
"I….I won't let you hurt them!" Damien growled, Kylo simply scoffed. Pitiful.
"How? You can't even defend yourself!" Kylo said. With another gesture, Damien's bravado was swept away as he was slammed back onto the table. "The map is mine! I will end the cycle once and for all! And no one, not you, not the Resistance, not the First Order, not Skywalker...NONE OF YOU WILL GET YOU IN MY WAY!" He shouted, his power once more shattering the walls in Damien's mind.
"RRRAAH!" Damien cried out in pain as his mind exploded in agony. The power within him finally erupted like a star going supernova. The Stormtroopers that stood guard outside were sent flying across the hallway, the mountain shook in rage as all officers in the area tried to hold their footing. Droids of all types, consoles, and lights flickered and shut down from the sudden shockwave. Within the room, Kylo stood before Damien, his feet moved a few inches from his original position but he was unharmed otherwise. Damien let out a final groan as he collapsed, the dark lord lowered his hand staring at the boy.
"A valiant effort." Kylo said, before he picked up his helmet, placing it back on his head. "But ultimately futile." He said. He heard his comm beep, reaching for it he activated it to reveal General Pryde.
"Lord Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke wishes to speak with you." Kylo nodded his head, ending the call. He looked at Damien for a few moments, he attempted to reach for him…..before pulling back. He turned around and left the room as the stormtroopers outside pulled themselves up.
"Keep guard. If he tries to escape, remember to set for stun. We need him alive." Kylo said. One of the stormtroopers nodded their head as Kylo walked past them.
(Starkiller Base)
Kylo Ren walked into the room, the entire hall was dark save for the large hologram of Supreme Leader Snoke. The dark master waited until his apprentice was before him, taking a knee as his hood and helmet covered his face.
"You summoned me, Master?" Kylo asked.
"General Hux has informed me that the Resistance is still intact. That your force was evacuated on your orders…..Why?" Snoke asked, his calm tone would place fear in the strongest of Jedi.
"I found something valuable, I saw no point in continuing the assault. I have the map to Skywalker within my grasp." Kylo said. Snoke stared at his apprentice, eyes narrowed at the back of Kylo's skull. He felt something within Kylo, it wasn't fear, no it was something he knew, or someone.
"The boy." Snoke said. "You have risked everything on the chance that the boy has the map."
"He has seen it. I felt it." Kylo retorted.
"And what remains of the Resistance?"
"Ren has left them with an opening." A voice called out, Ren's eyes narrowed at the voice. Standing up, he turned to see General Hux walking towards them with Tierny and his two pet Vornskr. "The Resistance will soon learn of our location. However, we know of their last base: D'Qar." Hux informed. Tierny had her head down as to not stare into the eyes of the Supreme Leader, bowing in respect as lower class officers such as herself were trained to do, she was in awe that she was standing behind three of the most powerful men in the First Order. "The Resistance has been weakened, they pose no threat to us Supreme Leader." Hux said, turning to Kylo Ren. The two stared at each other, Tierny could feel them sizing the other up. She had heard of the unspoken rivalry between Kylo Ren and Hux, but it was hard to imagine the General standing face to face with one of the most powerful beings in the Galaxy. Yet, here he was: Standing with a small smirk on his face staring back at the dark lord. It was in complete contrast to the mutual respect of the great Grand Moff Tarkin and the Sith Darth Vader that she heard so much about in the academy.
"The Resistance must be destroyed." Snoke stated, gaining their attention. "They still have the map to Skywalker, should they find him before we do….all will be lost." Snoke said, turning to Hux. "Prepare the weapon, we will crush this feeble resistance once and for all."
"At once, Supreme Leader." Hux said, giving Kylo one last look with a smug smirk before leaving with Tierny behind him and the Vornskr following. Kylo despised that man with a passion, how easy it would be to kill him.
"This boy." Kylo turned to Snoke as he rubbed his chin. "Is he truly important to you, my apprentice?" Kylo was silent for a minute, staring at his master, defying him the satisfaction of scaring him. He couldn't give up now, he needed Damien, he has been waiting such a long time and he finally found him. After all these years, he thought he lost so much, but now he was one step closer to his goal. Damien was the key.
"More important than Skywalker."
"Hmmm…...Very well," Snoke started, waving his hand in a sweeping gesture. If his apprentice was so infatuated with this boy, then perhaps he was worth the attention of the Supreme Leader himself. He must have been the powerful awakening he felt before, a very powerful presence in the Galaxy. Someone potential worth molding into true power, much like his apprentice. "If what you say is true, find the map within him…..then bring him to me."
(Starkiller Base)
Damien grunted as he pulled his hands as hard as he could before collapsing against the table in frustration. He woke up some time ago to find Kylo gone and two stormtroopers guarding him. He once again felt so helpless as he tried to pull himself free but it was hopeless. He had to get out of here, but how? He looked over his shoulder as the two soldiers stared at each other by the door. An idea popping in his head, an insane one, but an idea no less.
"You…..you will remove these restraints, and leave this cell with the door open." Damien commanded, both stormtroopers looked over at him, before back at each other.
"What did you say, scum?" A stormtrooper asked, the filter making him sound like he was growling. Damien realized it didn't work, so he closed his eyes and concentrated.
"You will remove these restraints, and leave this cell with the door open." Damien commanded again. He heard nothing for a moment before the sounds of boots echoed across the room, looking over he saw a stormtrooper walk beside him. Damien grunted in pain as the stormtrooper punched him right in the cheek.
"Not exactly as I planned." Damien groaned as he spat out some blood.
"How about I tighten those locks, you womp rat." The stormtrooper said, Damien shook his head as he looked at the stormtrooper. He knew it wasn't working, but he couldn't give up yet.
"You will remove these restraints, and leave this ce-!"
"Shut up." The second stormtrooper said, standing on the other side of Damien, before taking the butt of hid blaster and jabbing in Damien's chest, making him grunt in pain and gasp for air. They know Lord Ren ordered him alive, but not unharmed, and besides they could say he escaped. Damien coughed as he tried to control his breathing, before looking at the two stormtroopers.
"I order you to remove these restraints or I-!"
"You'll what? Be quiet, Jedi scum." The stormtrooper on his right side, hearing from other soldiers how Ren captures Jedi and kills them, assuming this smuggler was one of them. Damien cried in pain as he was punched in the gut once again, this time by the stormtrooper on his right with his fist. Damien growled as he narrowed his eyes, his anger bowling up before finally released.
"ENOUGH!" Damien exclaimed, a loud hum echoed across the room. Damien drew short breaths as he looked around and noticed the room shake, before seeing the two stormtroopers weren't moving. They seemed almost frozen like, he shivered as he felt a chill run down his spine. He realized what he must have used: the Dark Side. It was a simple passing, but he knew it was the Dark Side. Looking over at the trooper on his right he decided to give it one last try.
"You will remove these restraints, leave this cell with the door open." Damien commanded, holding his breath waiting.
"We…..will remove your restraints, and leave this cell with the door open." Damien's eyes widened before let out a sigh of relief. He couldn't believe it, it finally worked on stormtroopers! One of them unlocked his binds, Damien rubbing his wrists before his legs were free. He realized he was free…..inside the First Order base.
"You will also give me a blaster, and point me towards a hangar!" Damien ordered, walking behind the stormtroopers. One of them handed him a blaster and the other pointed.
"Take two halls right, then left and keep going straight." He said.
"Thanks…..You will both head into another sector of the station." Damien commanded with a wave of his hand before bolting towards the hallway and taking a right.
Kylo walked through the halls, Officers and troops stepping aside as he made his way towards the cell that Damien was in. He needed to find the map, he did not have time to waste. He also knew that Damien had seen it: His grandfather's Lightsaber.
HIS Lightsaber.
It was his by birthright, one of the last remnants of his grandfather's former life as a Jedi Knight. No one else could claim it….not anymore. He once felt its power, almost like it was being used on D'Qar being tainted by a weak fool. While it is true that those not connected to the Force can use a Lightsaber, it reacts differently and they cannot use the full capability of a Lightsaber. His was built after his rise to power, he designed it from a lightsaber wielded by the powerful Revan during the Mandalorian War, his Kyber Crystal was cracked and crimson red, a darker shade then most Sith Blades to show his power over the dark side. However, it was a reflection to the dark side, should he complete his training, cut his chain, and claim that Lightsaber he will be truly balanced. Kylo finally made it to the prison cells, but felt something was wrong. He made it to Damien's cell only to find it was empty.
Damien was gone.
"...No." Kylo growled as he started circling the chair. No! Damn it! He was so close, SO CLOSE! Everything has been building up to this very moment, and now it is escaping.
"No….NO!" Kylo growled, clenching his fist in anger. Reaching for his lightsaber, a cracking hiss echoed across the room as the Lightsaber came to life.
"I'm telling you, this is a bad idea, Bink." A Stormtrooper said, his comrade Bink let out an annoyed scoff.
"Relax Tag, we're gonna be fine. Besides this place is ginormous and I am not walking the long way around to get a bite to eat. This way is quicker, so quit complaining." Bink Otauna grunted, rolling his eyes under his helmet as his best friend, Tag Greenley.
"I still can't believe you convinced me to join the First Order." Tag grumbled, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Hey, I had no idea they were occupying Ilum, I thought it was a great place to hide after the Death Star blew up again!" Bink exclaimed, how was he supposed to know? He may have the force but that doesn't mean he was strong in it. "Besides, it's not like we can just go and join the Republic because they just got blown up."
"Yeah…...man, what a hectic thirty years it's been…..how are we still young?" Tag asked, staring at his hand.
"How should I know? I'm just as confused as you are." Bink said, bumping Tag's shoulder plate. "Now come on, the sooner we get there, the quicker I ca-!"
"RRRAAAHHHH!" Both stopped in their tracks, the blood curdling scream echoed from within the cells. They watched as sparks and melted metal exploded from the room, electricity cackling from the humming of a lightsaber echoing within the cell. They knew only one being whose voice was filtered by the mask, hearing the sounds of grunts and growls.
"...You know what the longer route is more scenic." Bink said, both of them taking a few steps back before quickly leaving the cell block.
"Couldn't agree more."
(D'Qar)
"There's a lot of people in this room." Karine muttered to Rhasar as they stood behind Chewie. Rhasar looked around seeing that basically every Resistance member was within this room, the leaders in the center console, the others behind him and soldiers surrounding them. All had gathered for the report from Leia and what their plan of action was.
"What'd you expect? A private affair?" Rhasar questioned, his helmet currently cradled in his hands. A woman with purple hair donning a dress stood across from Leia, her arms crossed.
"Senator Leia, I must ask if you have a plan?" Leia turned to the Admiral, shaking her head.
"Sadly, Admiral Holdo, we do not. However, we do have someone who can help us. Finn." Leia gestured to the ex-stormtrooper. Finn stepped forward with a data chip in hand, having spent the last hour designing a crude representation of the First Order Base.
"With all due respect, Senator, do you really expect us to believe the words of a stormtrooper?" Holdo asked, glaring at the rogue soldier.
"You got a better idea, flesh bag?" Arthon growled, his teeth slightly bared in response to the question.
"I do not believe anyone was speaking to you, Trandoshan." Holdo said.
"Oh, but someone was clearly speaking to you? As I recall, the stormtrooper was the one being addressed, not you." Arthon retorted.
"Watch your mouth, lizard breath." An officer said, standing across the room from Arthon. "You are speaking to Admiral Holdo and she deserv-!"
"Bold of you to insult me from a distance, flesh bag!" Arthon snarled. "I could care less what rank your flesh bag is. It means nothing to me!"
"Besides, it's because of Finn that Poe even got out of the First Order clutches." Karine added, stepping forward and placing a hand on Finn's shoulder. "You should all be lucky that you are getting this far without him."
"I don't believe anyone asked you, smuggler." An Squadron leader growled.
"Everyone, enough." Poe said, groaning in frustration.
"He's done more against the First Order than you lot." Rey muttered.
"You say something, Womp rat?" The same captain asked as she rolled her eyes, glaring at Rey who stood by Rhasar.
"How bout you back off, buddy?" Rhasar asked, his hand nearing one of his blasters.
"Here we go, again." Lando muttered, shaking his head.
"And why are you here, smugglers? I did not think you care about this Galaxy." Holdo said.
"Enough!" Leia exclaimed, silencing everyone in the room. Han let out a small chuckle as Leia sighed, calming herself, before Poe spoke up again to Holdo.
"With all due respect, Admiral, I'm only alive because of Finn." Poe said. "If anyone can get us into Starkiller Base, it'd be one of the First Order's greatest troopers." He said. Finn glanced at Poe with that last statement, somewhat uncomfortable with the mention of his history with the First Order, before he steeled himself and spoke.
"I hold no interest in your Resistance. The fight you're facing isn't one I see great odds for...but I don't want to see that thing fire another shot. Not again." He said.
"Finn." The soldier turned to Han, "Show us what you got." Finn nodded and installed the data chip, and all watched in awe as a very large planet-size base appeared, the large chasm splitting the planet apart like a canyon.
"This is Starkiller Base. A battle station that had begun construction in the early days of the Empire. The First Order merely finished the job." Finn said.
"How is this possible? How could they build such a large station in secrecy?" Leia asked as everyone stared at the large station in awe and fear.
"Because they didn't just build a station. They built it on top of a planet. Ilum." Finn said. "The planet was apparently rich with these powerful crystals they used to power the station. I've heard rumors of what the planet once was, but never verified them."
"Ilum." Leia said. "It was a sacred world for the Jedi way back before the Empire, the crystals are the most powerful source in the galaxy. A large chunk was powerful enough to charge the Death Stars." Leia explained.
"An entire planet filled with those things. This is the result." Han finished.
"You're saying the Jedi were invested in that planet once. What did they need the crystals for?" Rey asked.
"Ask the Mando. He's holding it." Han said. Everyone looked to the Lightsaber clipped to his belt. Rhasar looked down and pulled the Lightsaber from his belt, staring at its simplicity.
"The crystals were what Jedi used to power their Lightsabers." Rhasar said. "I remember the things my father spoke of when regarding this weapon."
"What would that be?" Lando asked
"Don't get hit by one, for starters." Was the dry response from Rhasar.
"Okay….so it's just a bigger Death Star, an easier target right?" Karine asked with a shrug of her hands.
"The kid's right, there's always a way to blow it up." Han said.
"Finn, you were on the base, do they have some form of a thermal oscillator?" Karine asked, Finn nodded and typed a few buttons. The Base zoomed above the large chasm where a large base was buried beneath the earth.
"If we destroy the oscillator, it'll likely destroy the weapon. Maybe even cripple the planet." Finn said.
"Alright, we'll go in there and hit that oscillator with everything we've got." Poe said, smirking.
"Hold on, Dameron. They have an entire shield surrounding their planet." Ackbar said, gesturing the large dome around the base. "Our ships will not be able to penetrate the shield."
"Then we'll just disable the shields." Han said, smirking like it was the easiest thing. "Finn, you think you can disable the shields?"
"I can't disable them." Finn said. This led to numerous groans around the room. "But I can get us through them." He said.
"I like this kid." Han added.
"The hardest part will be getting there, they will be ready for everything. Turrets, TIE Fighters, and I have a feeling Ren is down there." Leia said. Rhasar looked around and noticed nearly everyone let out a small shiver, he had to admit he felt a small cold creep up on him.
"No, the hardest part is you guys waiting until we get out of there. Once we got him, we can leave." Han said, making nearly every Resistance member look at him.
"He? General Solo?" A Major asked.
"He's referring to Damien." Rey said, Rhasar tried to stop her but she stepped forward gaining everyone's attention. She immediately regretted it as she realized all eyes were on her, but swallowing her spit, she spoke up again. "Damien is on that base, and we have to get him out before you destroy the oscillator.
"We are not risking our lives for some common smuggler." Holdo said. Before Rey could speak up, Karine and the others stepped forward.
"Watch your mouth, lady." Karine growled, grinding her teeth in anger.
"Enough of this, Senator Leia, why are we entertaining these smugglers? They have already been paid, shouldn't they be going off for the next big score?" Holdo asked.
"Getting real tempting to turn this thing on, again." Rhasar said, staring at the Lightsaber.
"Should I prepare the body bags?" IG asked from behind Arthon.
"I'd say maybe one if things keep going like this." Rhasar responded.
"How dare you!"
"No, how dare you, lady! Damien is on that base and we are not going to leave without him." Karine growled.
"Karine." Leia stepped forward, silencing the Twi'lek. "Calm down, I promise we will get Damien back. Heh, it's funny how much you remind me of your mother." Karine's eyes widened while Rhasar raised an eyebrow in confusion. Everyone else other than Han was confused as they looked at the red Twi'lek.
"You know this one, Senator?" Ackbar asked.
"Know her? I was there when she was born, and she has much business to be here as we do." Leia said gesturing to Karine. "Everyone, allow me to introduce Karine Syndulla: Third daughter to General Hera Syndulla." Karine's eyes widened as did the others, looking at the girl. They heard gasps and murmurs while Leia smirked, enjoying this little moment and shock…...plus it was amusing seeing Holdo's jaw drop as she realized she had just disrespected her idol's daughter. "And she will be a great help in rescuing Damien."
"While I agree with you that the boy must be rescued, I must ask why, Senator?" Ackbar asked. "I know you believe he is a Force Sensitive, but do you truly believe he has to turn this fight?" Rhasar, who was still busy staring at Karine, shook his head and turned to Leia. He noticed both her and Han staring at each other, Leia wrapping her hand in his, before Han stepped forward.
"Alright, alright. The truth is this, Damien is….he's…...he's Luke Skywalker prized pupil." Han said, catching the Resistance soldiers by surprise. "He was one of Luke's top students, and if you don't believe he has a chance, why don't you go look back at the forest line. Who do you think created that large blast of fire?" This made even Poe's eyes widened, realizing that maybe Damien was more powerful than he let on. "That kid is the key to all of this, to stopping the First Order, to finding Luke." Han said, before staring back at the base. "Now we just need to get on. I know I'm going, we need you Finn." Finn nodded. "Who else is coming?" Everyone looked at each other, as Han looked around. A single step made everyone look to see Rey step forward.
"I'm going too." Rey said, clutching her staff tightly.
"I'm used to dragging him out of trouble. May as well do it again." Rhasar said, his hand clutching the Lightsaber.
"I do not hold any feelings over Damien, and all chances lead to failure. Therefore the best solution is to-!"
"IG, go and save Damien."
"Mission Directive: Save Damien." IG stated walking forward. Rey looked over her shoulder and stared at Arthon, the Trandoshan merely had his arms crossed and looked away from the others. Rey stepped up to the Trandoshan, who merely snorted in annoyance.
"He's intent on getting himself killed." Arthon growled. "You all are." He said. He then got up and left the room. Rey sighed in defeat and joined Rhasar, who merely shook his head before Karine spoke up.
"I will stay." This caught Rhasar by surprise, until she continued. "Poe is gonna need every flier he can get."
"Try and keep up, Karine." Poe said with a smirk.
"Prepare to eat my dust, Dameron." Karine retorted smiling.
"Alright, you guys disable the shields and get Damien out of there. We'll get the fighters ready, take out that oscillator and blow up their gun." Poe said.
"When you say it like that, it sounds easy." Finn said.
""Hey, I make everything easy." Poe said, smirking.
"That explains how capturing you was a breeze." Finn said, with an equally mischievous smirk on his face.
"Look at that, I knew you had a softer side." Poe joked.
"Alright, everyone." Leia said, gaining their attention. "We must hurry, it is only a matter of time before they turn their weapon on us. May the Force be with you." Chewie roared in agreement, with that everyone departed and started running towards the hangar. Mechanics were fueling up the X-Wings, loading up the blaster bolt ammo, Astromech Droids loading into their hatches before being locked in.
"Just you and me, little buddy." Poe said, loading in BB who let out a few annoyed beeps and whistles. "I always got your back, BB, you always got mine. Let's go." Poe said, patting BB's head before preparing to enter his ship. He stopped seeing Karine, standing in front of an X-Wing across from him. He walked down his ladder and towards the Twi'lek, standing beside her, he saw her nervous expression as she stared at the X-Wing. "You okay?" He asked.
"This is going to be my first space battle. I…..I never thought I would be terrified." Karine said, cradling her helmet.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. After all, you tried to ram a TIE Fighter." Poe said.
"That was just because that one was dumb enough to do it. Most of the time I'm the one who flies out." Karine admitted, her cheeks turning darker in embarrassment. "I want to be like my mother, one of the best pilots in the galaxy…...but those are some big shoes to fill."
"I'm just a squadron leader. I doubt I'll ever be as important as your mother was." Poe said, before bumping her shoulder. "Just stick with me, and we'll all come out of this okay." Karine looked up at Poe, who gave her his signature smirk, she couldn't help but smile.
"If you weren't that old, I'd say you were actually my type." Karine said, walking towards her ship, Poe put a hand on his chest pretending to be hurt.
"Wow, guess I'm not Mandalorian enough for ya, huh?" He asked with mock hurt in his eyes. Karine turned back to him with a small glare. "Don't worry, Tails. Your secret's safe with me." He said. Karine rolled her eyes before they heard the sound of grunting, both turned to see Rey lifting a crate. They looked at each other before they decided to say their farewell. The two pilots walked up as Rhasar was clipping on his helmet as Finn was loading a blaster. The two turned to see Karine and Poe walk up to them.
"Come to see us off, Tails?" Rhasar asked. "Or should I call you, Karine Syndulla?"
"Just Karine, Rhasar, I'm still the same Pilot." She said crossing her arms.
"I still can't believe you never told me." Rhasar said.
"We all keep secrets, Rhasar, you know that better than everyone. Maybe another time, but we don't have long. I would be very sad if I found you died and I didn't get to say goodbye. Don't you feel the same?" Karine asked, smirking at the Mandalorian.
"I guess I tolerated your presence long enough, though I'm not the best with goodbyes." He said. Karine smiled, surprising Rhasar as she walked forward and hugged him. Rhasar's eyes widened, hearing a small snicker from Poe before looking down at Karine.
"Please come back. Please…..bring Damien back." Karine whispered. "I couldn't stand the idea of what they are doing to him…..and I know you feel the same way." Rhasar said nothing, Karine letting him go and turning to Finn giving him a hug.
"Thank you, Finn." Karine said.
"But I didn't do anything." Finn said. "All I've ever done since I met you guys is run."
"You may not care for the Resistance or the First Order, but I know you care about us. You've proven that you are not a mindless slave for the First Order, not a number, but a man who can make his choices." Karine said, taking a step back as Poe walked up. "You'll always be my friend."
"So there's a slight chance we might all die from this, so I just wanna say...you've been a good friend, Finn. And thanks, for getting me away from the First Order."
"And I...also enjoyed your company, Poe. I guess you were the first person I ever really considered...a friend." Finn said. Poe smiled before pulling Finn into a hug, the former awkwardly returned it before they departed. Poe turned to Rhasar holding out his hand, the Mandalorian shaking it.
"It's been an honor, Rhasar. Come back safely."
"You worry about your job, and I'll worry about mine, fly boy." Rhasar said.
"Be careful, Rey." Karine said walking up to Rey and hugging her. "Bring him back." Rey returned the hug, although she did not talk to Karine as much as she did Damien, she enjoyed the Twi'lek company.
"Thank you, Karine." Rey said, Karine departing before joining Poe as they started walking away.
"Be careful, Karine. I do not wish to find another flesh bag." IG stated, Karine smiled waving at IG, before turning back to Rhasar.
"May the Force be with you, Rhasar." The Twi'lek said, leaving without letting Rhasar respond.
"May the Force be with you too, Tails." He said in a low voice. They went back to the Falcon to help load up.
"Chewie, check that donal capitator." Han said, Chewie letting out a low growl. Han was dilating the engine to make sure it was optimal for this mission. Rhasar and Finn carried a crate into the ship while Rey loaded hand size metal spheres before one dropped.
"Rey, be careful with those. They're explosives." Rhasar said, kneeling down and helping her load them.
"You're telling me this now?!" Han shook his head, hoping this was all going to work.
"You know…" Han turned around to see his wife standing behind him. "No matter how many times I've seen you enter that ship, I hated every single one of them." Han smirked as he walked over to her.
"That's why I did it, so you'd miss me." Leia chuckled, rolling her eyes as he stood in front of her.
"And yet you still drive me crazy."
"That was the fun, Committee." Han said, Leia couldn't help but sigh, before Han pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. Leia hugged her husband with all the strength she had, she had lost so much: Mara, Luke…..them. She couldn't lose him too. But she felt it, hope burned beneath her and it was on Starkiller Base.
"Han…..I know he is there." Han didn't say anything as he cradled his wife's head. "When you find our son….please save him." Han said nothing, embracing his wife tightly as if this was going to be the last he sees her. He did know one thing, his son was alive, and he must save him. Meanwhile, Rhasar exited the ship and noticed something was wrong: Rey was missing.
"Rey?" He called out, before he looked at Finn. "Where'd Rey go?"
Rey walked past several soldiers as they loaded all ammunition into an X-Wing. She did not go to say goodbye again, she was not running, she knew who she was looking for. She left the base as metal became smooth glass and she kept walking. She sensed him, he was near, she knew he wasn't going to leave. She walked over a hill, and when she reached the top she saw him, sitting on top of the hill and staring out at the ocean.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready to leave?" Arthon asked, not turning to face her, still staring out at the ocean. Rey couldn't understand, but she felt his rage, how it was like a volcano waiting to erupt….and yet, she felt his sadness. It was like nothing she ever felt.
"I felt it would be wrong if I left you without an apology." Rey said, laying her staff on the ground and sitting next to Arthon. "Arthon, I am very sorry that I yelled at you. You didn't deserve that." Arthon snorts in annoyance, before letting out a low growl.
"Life isn't about what we deserve...though I'll admit, I'm not the easiest person to get along with." He hissed. "I'm angry...because everywhere I go, all I see are reminders of what I've lost." He said. The two sat in silence, Rey staring at the beautiful ocean, she looked over and noticed Arthon's expression. She is used to seeing his teeth bared most of the time, his eyes narrowed at everyone around him, sometimes his scales even flicked like they were spikes. Yet as she looked at him now, all she saw was a frown, his eyes reflecting that of a man who had long since gone past his breaking point.
A man who had well and truly lost everything that mattered to him.
"Was Trandosha as beautiful as this?" Rey asked, looking out towards the ocean.
"...Not anymore." Was all Arthon said. "I remember everyone we lost that day. Our homes were reduced to rubble. Our planet razed to the ground...all because we chose to fight back." He said. "And despite all they've done to destroy us...I survived. But all I have left...is rage. It won't bring back what I've lost, but it's all I have left." He said with a snarl. Rey looked over to Arthon, before both heard the roar of engines, both looking over their shoulders. "It's a lost cause, you know." He said.
"Do you truly believe that, Arthon? Are you truly willing to give up on everything?" Rey asked, the Trandoshan turning to her.
"The galaxy gave up on me. Why shouldn't I do the same?" He asked.
"Not everyone gave up on you, Arthon." Arthon said nothing, looking back towards the ocean. His eyes widened feeling a hand on his shoulder, looking down at the scavenger. "Damien didn't give up on you. Even when you tried to kill him, he believed there was something he saw in you didn't see in yourself." Rey said, taking her staff and standing up. "Even if you don't care about me, or the Resistance…..I think deep inside you care about him. Save him and help us destroy that base so this," Rey gestures to the ocean with her staff, "Is never destroyed by the First Order." Arthon looks at Rey, his single eye raised, all was silent with the crashing of the waves hitting the cliff. Rey sighed in defeat before taking her leave, it was worth a shot. She made it back to the ship as Rhasar waited for her, his arms crossed as she stopped in front of the Mando, her head down.
"You ready to go?" He asked. Rey looked up at the Mando, opening her mouth to speak.
"Yeah…" All heads turned to see Arthon stepping on board. "...we're ready."
"Alright, everyone get seated, we're heading out." Han yelled as Chewie loaded the lost crate of explosives. He turned back to Leia and Lando, bowing their heads which he returned with a mock salute. Arthon walked past Rhasar, stopping in his tracks and looking over his shoulder staring at Rey. He saw the huge smile on her face, letting out an annoyed snort before walking into the cockpit sitting behind Chewie. Han and Chewbacca started up the ship as Rhasar joined them, IG stood away hanging on the wall while Rey stood beside Rhasar as they left the ground.
"They might be our last hope." Lando said, the Falcon exiting the atmosphere, Leia let out a small sigh.
"No…...there is another, Lando." Leia said, placing a hand on her chest. She knew deep within her heart, there was one who could stand against Kylo, and find Luke.
"Please come back to me….my son."
(Starkiller Base)
Damien ducked behind cover, peering around the corner as a squad of Stormtroopers marched beside him, unaware of his presence. He needed to get out of this base quickly, but the place was a damn maze, he lost which way he was supposed to go and nearly ran into several squads. What was worse is now he is most likely being hunted by Ren. Once the coast was clear, he ran down the hallway and took a left. He was running as fast as he could, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was behind him, turning around to see a cliff.
"WOAHWOAHWOAH!" Damien grunted as he skidded to a stop mere inches from the edge. He tried to balance himself before falling back on his ass, looking over the edge into a deep chasm.
"Why aren't there any rails?" Damien muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He heard the roar of an engine, his widening at the sight of several TIE Fighters flying from a hangar. He did it! He made it towards a hangar and saw all but one TIE Fighter was gone. This was his chance, quickly standing up and bolting as close as he could towards the hangar but it was a long way down. He heard a ding and eyes widened seeing an elevator door to his side open to reveal two Stormtroopers with batons.
"What the?!" One asked before he was slammed to the wall from a powerful push. The other quickly activated it's baton and swung at Damien. Damien felt memories flash in his mind, his senses kicking in as he held his hand out and stopped the blow with the Force, the baton mere inches from his hand. The stormtrooper turns to Damien before he is kicked in the stomach before a blast sends him flying into a wall. Damien takes a sigh in relief, noticing something was strange going on, like he was at ease using the Force much more before.
"My headaches…..they stopped." Damien thought, rubbing his temple. He didn't think about it, but ever since he arrived on D'Qar, the headaches were gone. It sure hurt when Kylo was ripping memories out of his head, but it felt calm now. He will have time to think when he is off the ship, quickly grabbing a stun baton and entering the elevator. He waited a few seconds before the door dinged and he entered the hangar. Instantly met with a strong gust of wind from the shearing cold, Damien summarized he was on some frozen world out in the Unknown regions. He quickly ran across the hangar and towards the ship. He was so close to his escape it was inches from him.
THWOOM
Damien stopped in his tracks, a cold, dark feeling freezed him to his very core. His hands shaked and his legs trembled as he felt the dark creep up on him like a shadow. His eyes widened as he felt he was not alone.
"Did you really think you could escape?" Came the filtered voice of Kylo Ren. Damien turned around to see the dark lord standing across from him, two squadrons of Stormtroopers behind him with their blasters aimed. Damien realized they must have been waiting for him, he was so dumb. "Surrender now, and you will not be harmed." Kylo said.
"Yeah, I have trouble believing that." Damien said, taking a step back with his blaster in hand. Quickly he took a shot, only for Kylo to calmly raise his hand and stop the blast mid air.
"You never learn." He said. Damien watched as the bolt quickly zipped towards him, he closed his eyes and held his hand out. He was waiting for the pain but felt nothing, opening his eyes he stared in awe as he held the blaster bolt in place. Some of the stormtroopers looked at each other while Kylo tilted his head, almost like he was intrigued by it, truly it was never going to kill Damien but it was easy to make him afraid. "Impressive...but not enough to best me. You truly are a fool playing at a game he has no understanding of." He said.
"I guess I just choose to play the fool then be the puppet." Damien retorted, however his bravado was cut short as he felt his blaster be easily pulled from his hand and into Kylo's.
"From where I'm standing, you're both. You cling to the dogma of the Light, to the idea of Luke Skywalker. A fool as well as a puppet." Kylo said, crushing the blaster in his hand and letting it crumble onto the ground. Damien glared at Kylo, he couldn't see it but he hated the smugness this man carried.
"Don't act like you really know me, I don't know what the ideals Luke had….but I do know serving your side never ends well." Damien said, pulling out the baton and taking a stance, one foot slid back as he held the baton in front of him.
"I recognize that stance. I'm surprised you remember it." Kylo said. Damien's eyes widened as he looked at himself, and had to agree with Kylo: How did he know this stance? "But it won't do you any good. Merely delay the inevitable." Kylo lifted a hand up, Damien heard the roar of metal screeching and breaking. He felt a shadow over his head and looked over his shoulder, his eye widening as Kylo effortlessly lifted the TIE Fighter like it was a ball. Damien instantly jumped out of the way as the TIE flew past him, towards Kylo and the stormtroopers. Kylo jumped into the air as the TIE fighter collided into the ground and killed the stormtroopers. Damien stood back up as Kylo landed back on the ground in front of the fire, his silhouette created a large shadow that covered Damien, the crimson blade activated as it burned the metal beneath it. Damien licked his lips in fear as Kylo slowly walked towards him.
"Come on, then!" Damien exclaimed, charging towards Kylo swinging the baton. Kylo casually swung his blade as it clashed with the baton. Damien was flung back from a simple push, rolling back on his feet as Kylo dashed towards him. Damien held the baton above his head as Kylo swung down, Damien grunting as he was forced to his knee. He felt the heat of the lightsaber burn above him but he used all his strength to keep Kylo at bay. He rolled out of the way as Kylo sliced through the metal, Damien quickly stood up and swung down until he was stopped again by Kylo hand, being flung back and sliding against the metal. He got back up and glared at Kylo who twirled his lightsaber around, Damien growled as he took a single step. The world around him became slow as with a single step he was before Kylo, baton clashing with his lightsaber. Damien was shocked, because he was too far away to make that great of a leap.
Kylo kneed Damien in the stomach, making the smuggler grunt in pain as he was forced to his knees. Kylo grabbed Damien by the throat and forced him to look up at his mask, Damien growled as he tried to make Kylo let go but he was too strong. Damien looked around to see if anything could surprise attack Kylo and saw a piece of the TIE fighter. Using his free hand, he pulled the large piece of metal towards them. Kylo let Damien go and with a single swing the wing was severed in half, being reduced to several pieces of scrap metal. Kylo turned back to Damien only to be blasted in the chest by the stun baton, the shock surprising him as he grunted, before being sent flying from a powerful force blast. Damien smirked as Kylo landed on the other side of the hangar, holding his chest for a second before standing back up.
"Not too bad, for a smuggler, huh?" Damien asked, Kylo brushing himself off.
"You won't get another chance like that." He snarled, dashing forward. Damien followed as their weapons clashed, Damien ducking under a swing following with his own. He had know idea how he was doing it, but he was moving and blocking like this was just second nature to him. He side stepped a swing and went for a quick kick to Kylo's side. He grunted, however, when Kylo grabbed his leg and blasted him away. Damien was quick to launch on his feet and dash towards Kylo, who merely walked towards him. Damien spun the baton around but Kylo merely blocked it again, kicking Damien in the chest and sending him rolling away. Damien pushed back up swinging at Kylo who spun back to avoid the swing. Kylo planted his feet back on the ground as Damien charged, swing for Kylo's feet, but the dark lord casually swung his blade across his feet bouncing against the baton.
He spun with his blade high and swung at Damien's head, who quickly blocked it with the baton. Damien grunted in pain as he was being pushed back, what was even more insulting was how Kylo used only one hand. Damien let out a scream as he pushed Kylo back and jumped away to keep their distance. Kylo had other ideas before he thrust his hand forward. Damien felt the Force pulling him towards Kylo, but he growled in anger and planted his foot onto the ground and pushed his hand out. Two colliding forces blasted against the other, Damien felt his feet nearly slipping, and sadly he knew deep down that Kylo wasn't even trying but he couldn't give up. The Light and Dark screamed around them as metal broke and was flung back. The entire mountain shook, a singularity was being formed from the constant clash between Light and dark, Damien and Kylo hands stretched as far as they could. Kylo growled at how persistent Damien was, it was time to end this.
"ENOUGH!" With a simple push, Damien was sent flying through a hallway. Damien felt the wind knocked out of him, but he had no time to rest as he quickly pulled himself back up. He saw Kylo slowly walking towards him, quickly he reached out and activated the nearby panel with the force. He forced the doors closed and took a sigh of relief, that moment of relief was stopped when the doors were crushed and flung away as Kylo made his way with his lightsaber in hand. Quickly thinking, Damien took his baton and threw towards the console, the weapon smashed the console and sparks flew as Kylo dashed at him with his blade swinging. Damien covered his eyes only to hear nothing, opening them again he found a red barrier between him and Kylo. Kylo pulled his lightsaber back as Damien slowly stood up.
"You're right, I might not get another chance." Damien said, picking up the baton. "But I will find a way out of here, and I'm gonna make sure you never get this map." Damien said, narrowing his eyes at the dark lord. With that he quickly turned around and started walking away.
"And where do you think you can go?" Kylo asked. "Back to the Resistance? To Solo? Your so-called friends?" He asked. Damien stopped in his tracks, he didn't say anything as Kylo continued. "You cannot hide from this. You've been marked. The Force has sunk its claws into your destiny now, and you can hide no longer. You cannot protect your friends anymore. Not from the First Order, not from Supreme Leader Snoke, not from the Force...not from me." Damien quickly turned around, balling his fist in anger.
"If you so much as touch them I-"
"You'll what? Kill me? We both know you're nowhere near the level of skill to truly match me. You use the Force like a child, throwing a toy at a wall. Limitless potential...but you just can't see how to properly attain it."
"Stop acting like you know me. How do I know you're not just tricking me, trying to pretend you know me?" Damien asked. Kylo said nothing, he simply reached for his helmet, Damien watched as Kylo revealed his face the second time to him.
"I know who you really are, Damien. More than you know yourself, it seems." He said. "And you know who I am, Damien. Deep down, you've always known who I am." Damien stared at the dark lord before, studying his features. Maybe, maybe deep down he did know who he was, but he just couldn't remember.
"Come on, don't be a slowpoke Ben!" A child laughed as two boys climbed a tree.
"Be careful….en!"
"I…..I'm sorry…" Damien muttered. "I don't remember you. I can't. Maybe I should, maybe a part of me doesn't want to. I do know this, however." Damien looked back at Kylo. "I can't let you have this map." With that, Damien turned around and started running down the hall, Kylo watching him leave. He could have simply stopped him with the Force, he could have easily deactivated the barrier, he could have crushed this entire base and buried Damien to where he can't escape. He knew however, that there was nowhere for him to escape. Kylo turned around and placed his helmet back, taking his leave from the hangar.
"The Force is with you, Damien...but it will not save you from me. Dread it, run from it, destiny arrives all the same."
Zer0: (Looks at LEGO Rey, swerving her head around to see both expressions.)...Wow, even LEGO Rey doesn't have that many emotions.
Bio: We should get back on track.
Zer0: Right, right. Hello everybody! Holy Kriff, what a load that has been. Honestly we had like another thing we wanted to add but because it got so late we felt this was a nice ending to the chapter. The fight scene wasn't too long, but I promise the last one will be great. We got a lot done, some bits of character development, and a brand new revelation: Karine is Hera's daughter….WHAT?!
Bio: Yep. That's just one of the many surprises we've got planned for the series, with others sure to come along in the future.
Zer0: You also got a bit more insight on Kylo's philosophy, wondering how he came to this belief….wouldn't you guys love to know. Well, you're gonna have to wait. And yes, no KarinexPoe, these two are gonna be more like best friends of sorts. Don't worry, Karine's origin will be explored as will everyone else's be.
Bio: And as you saw, Damien and Kylo came to blows. And despite getting a hit in, Kylo outmatched Damien by miles.
Zer0: Who knows, maybe that will change by the end…...Maybe. (Inner Zer0: It's not.) Now let's end this with a little tidbit for the next chapter.
Star Wars Summary: As Damien tries to escape the clutches of Kylo, the others arrive on Starkiller Base and are met with old and new enemies. The Resistance prepares for the final fight to save the galaxy from Starkiller Base, and Damien must make the ultimate choice. The thrilling finale starts in the next chapter of the two part finale.
Zer0: Please review, pm for ideas, etc. With that Ladies and Gents, I bid thee well, wash your hands, and may the Force be with you.
Bio: Always.