Lady Syndra: I agree. Unfortunately, sometimes even the greatest generals and admirals can get caught by the trap of thinking that they have already won.

Kksambo: Thank you as always for your reviews. I always enjoy reading them and seeing how you point out many things that I completely agree with. In this case I agree that the Percy Jackson books was missing a bit in terms of female leads. I know that Annabeth was meant to fill that role, but I always found her more annoying then anything else. Thalia as well as she inherited Zeus arrogance and entitlement and later joined with the Hunters. I would like the Hunters as female characters if they were not such sexist hypocrites. I also agree that Percy is too naïve and is far to loyal to a 'family' of gods who truly do not deserve it. That is why in my drafted-out story I have worked in the typical Carthaginian religion and have found their gods to be much more united and relatable then the Olympians. In regard to your requested about a string female OC character as the lead. I will see what I can do.

Guest: Thanks for the review. I hope this meets your expectations.

Artemis Persephone Jackson: Thanks for the review as always. I hope I did not keep you waiting in vain.

Rhyming With Oranges: Thank you for your comments on my chosen path with Han. I am trying to incorporate a little of how he acted towards Darth Caedus in legends. I always felt that Han seemed to give up on his son Jacen really quickly and then seemed almost eager to kill him afterwards without trying for 'redemption'. Given how in canon Ben and Han had hardly any proper father son relationship. I think this is a how Han and Kylo Ren would realistically react with each other. Also thank you for your vote on which draft fanfiction to focus on. Like you I love Game of Thrones and Egypt which is why I made the combination.

TishaLiz: Thanks for your review as always I really appreciate all of them. In regard to your comment about the quality difference across the chapter. I wrote the chapter spread out across different days. It is always harder to start a chapter and trying to set the scene then it is once the story starts to flow. Also, sometimes I find it hard to write the story and sometimes I am in the zone. I am really glad that you liked Kylo Ren's new powers and his fight scenes. With his spirit intact and his hatred for his father cemented. He has accessed greater power in the dark side and Rey's neophyte training and luck is now no match for him.

Guest: Thanks for the review. I hope this meets your expectations.

Miss Luny: HAHAHAHA. I hope this new chapter continues to keep you entertained.

buzzsaw935: Thanks for the review. I am glad you liked it.

bethcandy21: Thank you very much for your review. I do appreciate them, and they encourage me to continue writing the story people like. In regard to the points you made. I am glad that you like Kuvira as a string OC lead character and that you like how her relationship with Kylo Ren has developed. I have received requests to make the relationship move faster. But I wanted to remain true to who they are as people to write the relationship they deserve. Things take a major step in their relationship in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it. I am also glad that you like the way I have portrayed the First Order, Rebellion and the Dark Side. I have always been a bit of a devil's advocate. But I think that the Star Wars story is far too one sided. Both sides have strengths and flaws and I am hoping to make that point more clear.

Mnmaloney: Thanks for your review. I am glad you liked the story so far. I hope this next chapter continues to live up to your hopes.

Chapter 20 – Convergence

Starkiller Base – Forest

Kylo Ren - POV

Kylo Ren watched as Kuvira began to fall into the glowing abyss that was at the bottom of the gaping gash in the skin of the planet. He could see her hair had come partially loose from his carefully tied military braid and was now beginning to cascade past her shoulders, manipulated by gravity.

He could see her face as she began to fall. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she clearly had not believed that she was in any danger from a beaten and defeated young scavenger from Jakku. Her eyes were also filled with disbelief. She was finding it difficult to grasp that her entire life in the First Order. All her achievements, her victories, her tactics, her rise to power had culminated in this ignominious death in a dark forest on a crumbling planet.

But she was also feeling acceptance of the situation. She had known for many years that she could die at any time, on any world, performing any task. She had known from the moment that she had first sat in the cockpit of her very first TIE fighter on her first mission as a simple pilot, that she might not be coming back from that mission.

As she grew older and rose through the ranks of the First Order navy to the penultimate rank of Grand Admiral, second only in authority to the Supreme Leader himself. She had continued to understand that all her power and accomplishments could be undone, and her life lost in a single bad day.

That she could die in battle or on the bridge of the Reclaimer. And that she could just as likely (or more likely) be killed by a stray blaster bolt or killed by an assassin in the dark with a vibroblade. Kuvira had been forced to accept, from an early age, that her life was likely not going to end peaceably in bed during old age. That she was likely to die young at a moment when she least expected it.

She had long ago forced herself to come to terms with the uncertainty and the inevitability of her demise. Just as she had been forced to face the unpleasant fact that upon her death, whenever it was, she would leave so much unfinished. So much that would still need to be done in the galaxy to bring the First Order to power and ensure its new Empire would be a stable legacy to long outlive her.

She had also taken time to acknowledge and accept that when she died. She would likely die alone. That she would be cursed by her enemies and missed by her loyal troops and officers.

But that she would be truly mourned by few, if any at all. Possibly her aide Nephitina would miss her as more then one misses a valuable strategist or an inspiring military leader. But instead as one misses a companion or maybe even a friend.

Whether or not that was true was something that Kuvira had long ago forced herself to acknowledge as irrelevant. As long as she died in her mission to ensure the survival and ascendance of the First Order as the only ruling galactic power. It did not matter how she died or if anyone gave her passing so much as a second thought. To think otherwise as nothing short of delusional and the highest order of vanity.

These were traits that she despised in Hux and those like him. And she would throw herself into a sarlacc pit before she allowed such corruption and weakness to form within her.

But beneath all of that and through the Force Kylo Ren could sense something else that was slowly beginning to surface across her face and her presence in the Force.

She felt disappointed.

She felt disappointed that she would now not be able to make so many choices. Take so many actions that she had been planning and considering for most of her life to fulfil her lifelong mission to crush the New Republic and ensure that the domination of the First Order was established among a stable and peaceful galaxy.

He sensed that she was also disappointed about something else. Whatever it was it was a deeply personal nature as her mental shield had been slammed in place over these thoughts, feelings and hopes for so long that they were almost unperceivable to him.

But with her emotions and thoughts running high during what she was certain were going to be the last seconds of her life before her fiery end. Her mental discipline had weakened, and she allowed herself to consider things that she had long ago consigned to the realm of impossible dreams.

He saw images, and voices flash past his eyes and his mind as the Force allowed him to view what Kuvira was seeing as her mind flashed before their eyes. It happened at the speed of thought. The images and senses going so fast that to the untrained mind it would have been impossible to follow them.

He saw Kuvira standing on the bridge of the Reclaimer, watching in pride and triumph as the First Order Fleet wiped out the burning remains of the New Republic and Resistance fleets.

He saw her standing on a world that he recognised as Coruscant. She was wearing her First Order dress blacks as she stood next to the Supreme Leader as endless crowds of citizens cheered and waved First Order flags and banners, as the statue of Bail Organa was torn down from the central plaza of the rotunda building.

He saw her sitting on a balcony as she overlooked a beautiful tropical landscape, complete with waterfalls, rivers, jungle cliffs and white sandy beaches bordering a blue ocean. She was wearing an elegant but comfortable lilac dress that exposed some skin to allow for the heat but ensured that her poised dignity was maintained. He recognised this world too. It was Rishi, a world that the First Order had business dealings with in the past. It was a favoured vacation and retirement location. But he had no idea that the world had struck such a cord with Kuvira at the time.

Next he saw Kuvira standing with her back to him. She was in her personal quarters on board the Reclaimer in her usual uniform. She seemed to be staring intensely at the object she was holding in her arms. Whatever it was it was likely some important information or tech that…..He stopped short as the image of Kuvira turned to face him, allowing him a full view of what she was holding.

In her arms was a bundle of red cloth. He noticed with shocked amusement that the cloth was also stamped with the black symbol of the First Order.

But the bundle was moving, and as he watched the dream playout he saw a small arm reach out and grab at Kuvira's extended index finger as she smiled down at the infant that began to laugh as he/she played with his mother's offered digit.

Kylo Ren was so stunned by that image that he almost failed to react as the next image flashed across his vison. He saw Kuvira standing alone, but as he watched he saw a figure approach and stand next to her in a way and position that could not be mistaken for anything but intimate. He tried to extend his senses into this image to determine the identity of the second figure. Whoever it was it felt, familiar.

But that was all he could see as the images began to recede and fade away as Kuvira actively cleared her mind as she prepared to accept her fate with all the dignity and grace she could muster.

Time seemed to speed up where it had been almost frozen seconds ago. Kylo Ren watched as Kuvira's fall seemed to pick up speed as she closed her eyes and he sensed her let go of all the thoughts and half-forgotten dreams that had been cascading through her head moments ago.

She was prepared to go. And she made no move to scream or cry or flail as she dropped down towards the burning lava at the bottom of the crevasse.

But while she might have been prepared to accept this outcome. Kylo Ren had no intention of allowing this to happen.

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!" He screamed as he thrust both his hands forward and command the force to embrace Kuvira and hold her fast.

Darkside power erupted from his open palms and he felt the Force obey his command as Kuvira's descent was brought to a shuddering halt as she found herself suspended in mid-air over the flaming gorge. Kylo Ren kept his focus solely on Kuvira as he felt dark side flow through him like a divine wind as he held gravity itself at bay and bent it to his will.

Kuvira for her part had snapped her eyes back open as she felt her fall halt instantly. She looked over at the spot where Kylo Ren was holding out his arms toward her as she saw him grit his teeth in concentration as he kept the Force on her in its tight embrace.

For a brief moment their eyes met, as emerald green stared into molten gold in a stare that seemed to carry so many words yet transcended the mundane use of language.

But then Kuvira's eyes left his and fixated on something behind and above him. It was then, as Kylo Ren felt his other external senses comeback to him. That he noticed the light that had begun to form shadows against the darkness on the snow-covered ground. He also heard the unmistakable sound of a star ship engine as it lowered itself to standby mode and reached ground level.

Turning his head, he saw the beaten up, rusted frame of the Millennium Falcon as it lowered itself to the ground and the boarding ramp descended to reveal his father….to reveal that criminal scum Han Solo standing on the ramp with his hand on the supports due to his legs.

He looked at Kylo Ren briefly as his face took on a look of sadness momentarily. Then it was swept aside as he scowled at his son. Kylo Ren saw the look and returned it with a snarling glare of burning hatred. He would have killed Han Solo by now if he did not need to keep his attention on Kuvira, who was still suspended over the gaping canyon beneath her.

But the planet started to shake again, much more violently then it had on the previous quakes. Han was slammed into the support struts of the boarding ramp and was forced to wrap his arms around it tightly to remain standing. His mouth was curled in a grimace and a hiss of pain escaped his clenched teeth as his injured legs were forced to cope with the motion.

Not far away, Rey and a semi-conscious Finn were thrown back to the ground as they were knocked off their feet by the seismic shift.

Kylo Ren himself was forced to anchor himself in position with the Force to prevent the shaking ground from throwing him to the floor as well. In spite of his quick actions he did stumble before he was able to regain his footing. At the same time Kuvira fell a few feet before Kylo Ren was able to reassert his force grip on her body and ensure that she did not fall to her death.

"Come on! Get on the ship now!" Han yelled at his two young companions as they struggled to their feet once more. "The entire planet could be destroyed any second!"

Rey - POV

That got some reaction from Rey and Finn as they staggered to their feet and made their slow journey to the boarding ramp. But they were too badly injured for them to make much more then a slow walking pace.

Rey was still fighting back the intense pain that she had gained during her battle with Kylo Ren. Her face was bruised and bloody. She was also sure she had a back tooth missing. She was covered in bruises and lacerations that leaked a steady stream of blood on her clothes and onto the soft powered snow. Staining it in crimson footprints as she moved forward.

She was also certain that she had a few cracked or maybe even broken ribs from when she had been hit with the tree. The only reason she had not died instantly was because she had somehow known to throw up some kind of mental barrier before the fallen timber battering ram. But the force of the blow had still felt like being hit with a speeding swoop bike.

Now she was barely able to keep hobbling across the snow towards the desperately waving Han with Finn leaning on her for support even more then she was leaning on him.

Finn was in a similar situation to her. He had been subjected to intense blunt force trauma when Kylo Ren had slammed him into the ground or into trees. And then he had every nerve ending in his body fried like bacon by the Force lightning Kylo Ren had tortured him with. Now he was only semi-conscious as his mind tried to recover from the intense synaptic shock that it had been subjected to. At the same time his body was still trying to fight off the residual effects of the lightning and as a result he was being subjected to agonising and near constant muscle spasms.

Between the two of them they were little better then crippled as the staggered and limped their way over to their rescue ship with all the urgency the situation demanded. But with all the speed and grace of a drunken Houk.

This wasted time that they did not have on a planet that might be an asteroid field in mere moments.

Seeing this, Chewie (who had descended that ramp after putting the ship down) lept out of the ship and ran toward his two injured human companions. With the strength that all Wookie's were famous/infamous for. He lifted both of the humans into his arms and placed them over his shoulders.

He ignored their hisses and groans of pain as he jostled them and irritated their injuries. There was no time for such considerations. He would get their injuries seen too once they were off this planet and away from the First Order.

Kylo Ren watched all of this as he kept Kuvira suspended and began to move her away from harm and back onto firm ground.

But when he saw his hated enemies on the verge of escaping. He felt a new increase in his rage and his power as the dark side flowed into him once more and filled him with both the resolve and the will to end this right here and now.

"You're not going to get away! Not this time!" He shouted over his shoulder to his foes as they moved past him to the boarding ramp.

As his words echoed across the dark forest. He pulled on of his hands away from its previous position and pivoted his body to the side. His right hand remained focused on Kuvira, keeping her suspended and away from the lava in the canyon. His left had was now aimed squarely at the little rebel band that was clustered at the entrance to the boarding ramp.

Once more the dark side obeyed him as he commanded it to grip the throats of all four of his enemies, and to squeeze.

Instantly Han, Rey, Finn and Chewbacca began to cough and splutter as they all suddenly found their airways cut off. They tried to draw breath, but their heads just became dizzy as they tried to force air into their lungs with no success.

Instinctively, Han, Rey and Finn lifted their hands to their necks, as if to pry off whatever was currently chocking them. But their hands brushed and scrabbled at their exposed necks. Only to find that there was nothing there. Slowly they were forced to their knees as their lungs began to burn and scream out for oxygen only to be denied by the crushing power fixed on their throats.

Finn suffered the worst of the four victims. Already injured and barely able to remain conscious on his own before the Force attack. He found that with this air supply cut off, his body had simply had enough. His eyes rolled back into his head and his hands fell away from his neck. As Rey and Han watched helplessly. Finn fell forward and landed face down in the snow.

Rey and Han struggled to reach him as he fell. Despite the fact that they were about to collapse from the lack of oxygen as well.

But Chewbacca was not going to be reduced to such a state so easily. Wookie lungs are as big and as powerful as the rest of their bodies. And Chewie had managed to get a lungful before he was gripped by the dark side power crushing his windpipe.

Chewie knew instantly what was going on and unlike his human companions. He remained clear headed enough to know where the source of this attack was. Or more accurately, who the source of this attack was.

Chewie turned his blazing feral eyes at the dark form of Kylo Ren. He was still standing with his arms stretched out to either side. Each one performing its own separate task. One trying to save the life of one person. The other trying to squeeze the life out of four other people.

Chewbacca had lived for a long time. He had lived long enough to see his people fight for their homeworld during the Clone Wars. He had seen the Republic betray them and later the Empire enslave them. He had seen war again in his battles with the Rebel Alliance and he had finally gained some measure of peace with the establishment of the New Republic.

More then that. He had gained a new family in Han, Leia and young Ben Solo. Later in life, while he had known that their family relationship was deteriorating. He had never imagined that the sweet little boy hen had played with and protected for years would eventually destroy everything he and his parents had ever worked for.

And now that once sweet boy was staring deep into Chewie's eyes as he tried his best to murder him and his own father.

But unlike Han and Luke. Chewie had long ago buried whatever sympathies and feelings had held for this boy. He had never accepted that Ben Solo was 'dead'. He felt that was simply an excuse. A way to let the brat off more easily by calling him Kylo Ren as if they were different people.

No, Ben Solo was alive and well. And he was currently the enemy trying to kill him and his friends.

But Chewie would not allow that to happen. If Kylo Ren died, the Force choke died with him. And with his arms extended and his weapon away. He had no way to defend himself from a furious, hateful Wookie, who was intent on ripping him limb from limb!

With a roar, Chewie lept to his feet and ran at the startled Kylo Ren with his claws extended and murder in his eyes.

Kylo Ren - POV

Kylo Ren saw the enraged Wookie charging at him and felt his skin grow cold. He wanted to blast the furball back with lightning. But despite his recent increase in power and the strengthening of his connection to the dark side. He was growing tired with the extensive battle that had been fought in the forest. As well as the extensive emotional trauma that had been caused by his conflict with Han Solo.

His powers were already straining to maintain his current level of strength. But soon he would be exhausted and then he would be helpless unless he had time to rest and regain his strength.

His ability to use force lightning was new and despite his clear natural talent for it. It remained unrefined and he found himself unable to call on it in his weakened state.

With that not an option, he called on his burning hatred and increased his power on his force choke. If he could not wait for Chewbacca to die from suffocation. He would crush his larynx and kill him instantly!

He increased the pressure on the Wookie, and he felt the Wookie's muscle and bones begin to strain under the intense pressure. But the Wookie's powerful body was not destroyed so easily, and Chewbacca did not slow down in the slightest. In fact, he seemed to speed up in his desperation to maul the young Sith before he was able to strangle him to death.

He did have another option. He could releasee his grip on Kuvira and focus all his remaining power on the charging Wookie. With all his power focused solely on the Wookie. He would be able to crush his throat into dust in a second. Or he might be able to draw on enough power to summon lightning and turn the beast to a smouldering pile of ash.

But if he did that, Kuvira would fall to her death, and he was not willing to allow that to happen. He knew that his grandfather would admonish him for such weakness to another person in the face of his own death. But he knew his master Snoke would not be happy if his apprentice got his greatest military leader killed.

At least, that was the excuse he would use if his master or anyone else questioned him on this decision.

So, he refused to pull back his power from his force grip on Kuvira. And instead he released the other three rebels from the Force grip. They immediately fell to the ground as they violently choked and coughed as they greedily sucked much needed air into their starved lungs. Once he did that he rechannelled and forced all his remaining will power on crushing the Wookie's internal organs before the great hulking carpet managed to reach him.

But even as he called on the Force and pulled even more power and energy from the Dark Side. He knew it would not be enough. He was simply too tired, his new strength too unrefined, his power too diminished by exhaustion to keep Kuvira alive and to kill Chewbacca before he reached him and twisted his head off his neck like a cork.

So Kylo Ren was left with nothing else to do except wait and hope that the beast would succumb to his attack before he reached him. Even as he knew he would not receive his wish.

But Kuvira was not just remaining idle while she hovered over the lava filled canyon, with her life hanging in the balance.

Kuvira - POV

Kuvira had watched all the events unfold silently and she had seen the return of the Millennium Falcon, the escape attempts of then four rebels and the charging attack of Chewbacca.

She could see that Kylo Ren was using the Force to choke the four rebels to death where the stood. While she was not attuned to the Force herself. She could also tell that he had begun focusing his power against the Wookie, in an attempt to disable or kill the furry brute before he managed to kill Kylo Ren and by extension her.

She may have been hanging suspended in the air like an ancient puppet by mystic forces that were beyond her understanding or interest. But she had no intension of waiting like a helpless child while the cursed Wookie caused her to fall to her death.

On a private note, she was also not willing to sit by and allow the Wookie to kill the man who she was growing noticeably fond of.

Her blaster pistol was long gone. It had fallen into the canyon when she had been thrown from he feet and the force of the attack had carried it down into the lava flow. But that did not mean Kuvira was now without weapons.

Using speed and instinct honed over years of training and hours of private practice. She reached back underneath her greatcoat and quickly reached the back of her belt. From there she pulled out her vibroknife from its concealed sheath along the belt and brought it to her face in a two fingered throwing grip and lined it up with her target.

From an early age she had been taught how to use all manner of weapons, from ranged, to melee to hand to hand. While she was an expert in all of them. She had developed an affinity for the use of vibroknives during the course of her life. She had found them to be an all-purpose weapon. Able to be used in both close range and if thrown correctly, long distance.

She had also found them to be a good way to practice and to release some stress in the training rooms between her various duties. As a result, she had become very proficient in the throwing of vibroblades in combat.

On a good day, she could pin a wasp to a tree at 10 metres…. On a good day.

But this was not a wasp. This was an incredibly angry and powerful Wookie warrior who was moving at his maximum speed in a dark and windswept forest. She had no time to aim, and no time to adjust for the wind or the fact that the Wookie was moving furiously towards Kylo Ren as fast as his powerful body was able to take him.

She raised the knife in her hand and watched with intense concentration at the motions of the Wookie as he moved across the snow towards his target. She watched the rhythm of his legs, the rising and falling of his shoulders and head as he ran and pinpointed the location he was going to be in next.

All the calculations and observations were done in less then two seconds, on the subconscious level. Performed with a dedication, bordering on obsession. Without pausing to think and allowing no time to second guess herself. Kuvira raised her hand and the blade flew out of her fingers with all the speed and accuracy of a blaster bolt.

The weapon flew through the air like a glittering steel dart and in less then a second it made contact with its intended target.

Chewbacca howled in pain as the vibroknife dug into the soft flesh of his upper left leg. Immediately the Wookie fell forward as his injured leg gave way under his tremendous weight. With the sudden loss of balance, the Wookie came ploughing into the ground. This caused the knife in his leg to be jerked around and dug even deeper into the flesh. This brought forth a whole new roar of pain and rage from the Wookie's throat.

Kuvira had a basic knowledge of the anatomy of various species and so she had known where a vital artery could be found on the Wookie's body. However, the substantial, but insufficient amount of blood that was gushing from the wound indicated that she had not managed to hit her target.

The wound was painful and had managed to stop the Wookie's charge, but it had not had the intended effect of killing him.

In fact, even with the new injury and the continuous pressure inflicted by Kylo Ren. The Wookie was even know beginning to rise back to its feet again. Judging by the angry growls and the still extended claws. It fully intended to kill Kylo Ren if it was the last action it did before death.

Kuvira scowled at this annoying display of resilience, (even if she admired it on some level). In response she reached into her boot and pulled out her second vibroknife.

Once again she took aim, targeting a different part of the Wookie's body this time. This through was much easier to perform as the Wookie was no longer running and was instead reduced to a fast limp.

This made the attack much easier to direct and this time, Kuvira intended it to put the Wookie down permanently.

Chewbacca was no less than five feet away from Kylo Ren with his claws outstretched, reaching to tear off Kylo's extended arm. When a flash of silver shot past and once more buried itself in Chewbacca's body.

Chewbacca's previous roars of pain where now surpassed by howls of sheer agony as he stumbled away from Kylo Ren with his hands reaching up to try and pull out the knife that was embedded in his left eye!

Blood was cascading from the wound, and as the half mad Wookie pulled the blade out of the tattered remnants of what seconds ago, had been a working eye. The blood flow became a torrent.

Chewbacca pressed both his hands to his face as the blood began to seep through his clenched fingers and his fur began to grow matted from the blood staining his entire left side and face. With the pain being too much, combined with the continuous choke hold by Kylo Ren, the Wookie was overwhelmed and fell back into the snow, which soon began to turn red. He remained on his back with his hands still clasping at his ruined face, but no longer even able to summon the strength to howl out his pain, rage or despair.

"Chewie!" Han screamed with both fear and rage, as he hobbled over to his friend while he pulled out his blaster pistol.

Kylo Ren saw the blaster pistol coming up and reacted immediately. He had not yet fully mastered the Tutaminis techniques. So, catching the blaster bolt with his hand or blocking it without the use of his lightsaber would be impossible. Ordinarily he would have used his adept level skill in Tutaminis to freeze the blaster bolt in place has he had done on Jakku. But that technique was new to him. A recent lesson from his master, and it was very taxing and required a good deal of focus and power. Power that he did not have in his currently weakened and tired state.

With no other options and his right hand still keeping Kuvira suspended above the lava. He released the injured, bleeding and howling Wookie from the choke hold and called his lightsaber into his hand. He activated the crimson blade and watched with anticipation as the red blade crackled and spat fire. Ready to send Han Solo's blaster bolt right back into his teeth!

But instead of aiming it at his son. He instead aimed it directly at Kuvira! His teeth bared, his face frozen in a grimace of vengeful hatred, he raised the blaster at her heart and fired at the suspended Admiral.

Kuvira was unable to move out of the way of the blaster bolt and instead was forced to bring up what small defence she was capable of. She raised her arms over her head and curled herself into a ball as tightly as she could while ensuring that her head and chest were as protected as possible by her legs and arms. At the same time, she ensured that her back (and thereby her spine) was turned away from Han Solo and the incoming blaster bolt.

The blaster bolt travelled along its path heading straight for Kuvira's heart as Han prayed to the Force that he could take out the First Order bitch who had done this to Chewie. Having seen his friend he knew that the worst-case scenario saw Chewie dead from the knife piercing his brain. The best-case scenario saw him permanently blind in that eye. He had seen injuries like that and knew there was no saving Chewie's sight after this.

But was just the most recent reason why he wanted to kill Kuvira. Others included the damage to his own legs on Takodana, and all the friends he had lost that day and others. And there was the matter of the strange relationship she clearly had with his son…. with Kylo Ren. For all he knew this schutta was also the fulcrum that kept Ben in service to the First Order instead of coming home, where he belonged.

And that thought made him even more determined to see her skull blown out by his blaster pistol before he left this planet!

The bolt slammed into Kuvira's defending left arm which had been placed over her chest where her heart would have been if she had not assumed the defensive ball position.

She gritted her teeth as she felt her skin melt and the plasma impact on the muscle and bone of her arm. She could smell the stench of burning clothes and flesh as the wound cauterised and the pain she felt seemed to triple as the shock and adrenaline began to fade away.

She flexed her fingers on her left hand to make sure that there was no serious nerve damage and that she had the full use of her hand. Her fingers moved normally to her relief. But the actions sent shards of pain shooting down her arm and she once again was forced to hiss in pain through her clenched teeth. She refused to allow this pitiful band of rebels, traitors and beasts to hear her cry out in pain. She would not allow them to gain that satisfaction or allow the damage to her pride.

Nor would she allow Kylo Ren to hear her display such pathetic weakness.

But she did not know how many blaster bolts she could endure or survive. And as she heard Han Solo curse and fire again. She braced herself for more pain or for death.

But when she heard the blaster bolt get smacked away and the blazing hum of Kylo Ren's lightsaber she allowed herself to open her eyes and take her head of the protective position behind her arms.

Kylo Ren had placed himself between her and his father. His lightsaber was smacking blaster bolts into the tree's as Han Solo continued to fire his weapon. Sometimes the bolts seemed to be aimed at her and sometimes at Kylo Ren. It seemed as if Solo was trying to take them both down, and maybe was trying to confuse Kylo by giving him two targets to protect.

But Kylo Ren was too skilled to allow this cheap trick to fool him. He spun his lightsaber in a furious serios of arches that sent the blasters bolts away from him while ensuring that none of them made it past him to Kuvira. Kuvira meanwhile was wishing she had carried more than just the two blades as back up weapons. If she had just one more she might be able to send it straight into Han Solo's throat.

Meanwhile Han did not seem to notice the futility of his efforts. He just kept firing his blaster as fast as he could and as randomly as he could as if he was just hoping that he would get luck and hit one of his targets. This continued until Kylo Ren got bored of this and sent a blaster bolt right back at Han Solo's weapon hand.

The plasma blast hit right on the side of the weapon at the place where Han's flesh was wrapped tightly around the metal of the pistol as he fired. The bolt breached the metal casing, causing the power pack to ignite and overload. Before Han could fully release the weapon to tend to his injured hand, the blaster exploded in a shower of metal fragments and energised dedlanite.

The blast threw Han backwards and caused his hand to be injured further as the flesh was burned black and the skin and tissue was seared clean off his palms and wrists.

Han fell into the snow and immediately buried his blackened hand in the frozen water as he shouted in pain to join the still agonised Chewie lying on the ground only a few feet from him, still clutching the ruin of his left eye.

Kylo Ren - POV

Kylo Ren watched in supreme satisfaction and Han Solo and his closest friend writhed on the ground clutching their various injuries. But he could not enjoy the moment long before he was once again forced to deflect blaster bolts away from himself and Kuvira as that miserable traitor FN-2187 starting firing at him with his previously discarded blaster rifle.

As Kylo Ren deflected the blaster bolts away he watched as the Jakku smuggler girl ('Rey' he remembered her name was) run up to the still prone Han and the Wookie as the latter began to stumble to his feet.

"Come on Han, we have to get out of here! The planet could blow up any second!" She screamed as she pulled Han to his feet as he desperately cradled his mangled and blackened hand to his chest.

With a groan of agony. Han managed to get to his feet and then went to help Rey support Chewbacca as they placed themselves beneath his arms and helped to guide him to the boarding ramp of the Millennium Falcon. Finn meanwhile backed up to follow them. All the while he kept up his furious barrage at Kylo Ren and Kuvira to hold them at bay. Once they reached the ship he turned and moved to help Han and the Wookie on to the ship along with Rey.

But Kylo Ren was not about to let them escape with their lives. "There is no escape for you this time!" He shouted as he deactivated his lightsaber and raised his hand. Once more he called on the Force to close off their airways and to choke the life out of them before they made it back on to their ship.

Once again the four of them began to cough and gag as they reached the boarding ramp. And this time none of them were in any position to attack him or try to throw off his concentration. They fell back to the ground and Chewbacca was forced to grab one of the ramps supports to prevent himself from falling on the prone Han. But despite their coughing and choking. The pressure on their windpipes did not seem as strong as it was earlier. It still allowed them to breath in a very small capacity.

Kylo Ren knew that he had reached his limit in terms of his energy and Force reserves. After all his displays of power since the battle in the Oscillator. Between surviving a bomb exploding right next to him. Fighting and using his lightning during several battles in the forest. Splitting his power to keep a full-grown woman aloft from death while battling four separate enemies. He had reached the end of his rope and his exhaustion was starting to become critical.

He was unable to use his force choke to its full power. And behind him, he was still unable to move Kuvira safely away from the canyon. Also, she was beginning to experience some jerking and small drops in the air as his powers began to diminish his hold on her.

Kylo Ren gritted his teeth and he watched the rebels and that hated criminal bastard, Han Solo struggle and cough as they fought to get on the ship and to escape from their well-deserved ends. He wanted to march over to the struggling wretch and bury his lightsaber, up to the hilt in his stomach! He wanted to strangle him with his bare hands instead of the Force. It would have been so much more satisfying!

But no matter how much his hatred burned he could not summon up the strength to crush their necks entirely. Nor could he common anything more then a few small arches of lightning between his fingers. Even trying to summon greater power was leaving him feeling light head and only forcing his powers to diminish faster.

Kylo Ren was forced to acknowledge his situation. He was currently exhausted and drained from using his unfamiliar abilities so much and with such intensity. He was splitting his power into two separate tasks and he was draining his power trying to maintain his power.

He was torn physically and mentally between killing Han Solo and his allies or keeping Kuvira alive and safe.

He knew that he did not have much left in him and no matter how much hatred and anger he felt blazing within him. No matter how much he felt the Dark Side rushing through him. He was simply at the limits of his current physical endurance.

No matter what he did. He could not maintain his power any longer. He could not accomplish both of the things he was trying to do. One way or another he was going to lose his grip on the Force chokes and the telekinetic grip on Kuvira.

He could still accomplish one last thing in this battle. But he would need to release the other stream of power so that he could focus all his power on one thing.

If he let go of Kuvira and allowed her to fall to her death. He would have the means to kill his enemies in an instant by snapping their necks like twigs. He would finally rid the galaxy and himself of Han Solo once and for all.

Or he could let Han and the rebels escape the planet and focus all his power to get Kuvira back on the ground and then the two of them could leave in her ship before the planet exploded or until the tectonic shockwave's effects stopped.

But whatever choice he made. He needed to make it now. He could not keep both going any longer.

He clenched his teeth and his eyes shut. Both from the physical exertion and from the weight of his choice. He knew what his grandfather would do. He knew that if Darth Vader had the chance to kill once of his most hated enemies he would do it instantly. If that action cost the life of an Imperial Admiral or even a Grand Admiral. Vader would have done it without a second thought.

The only possible exceptions to this were probably Grand Moff Tarkin and Grand Admiral Thrawn. And that might be more due to the Emperor's reaction at their loss.

But Vader would not allow anything to stop him in his quest to destroy all of his enemies. He would view Ren's indecision as weakness. Would say that he was crippled by compassion and base feelings that were not worthy of a Sith Lord.

He would probably even advocate that like the ancient Sith Lord Darth Malgus. Kylo Ren should kill Kuvira to allow her memory and whatever feelings he felt for her to fuel his power in the Dark Side and to rid himself of the potential weakness she represented.

Ren felt his arms shaking as she fought to maintain their respective tasks and as he felt his last reserves begin to fail him.

But Kylo Ren was not Darth Malgus, or Darth Vader. And while he would always idolise, admire and respect his grandfather. He had resolved to not try to be him any longer.

He was not Darth Vader. He was Kylo Ren. His grandfather had his time and it had come to an end. Now he was the future of the Sith. And like the code of the Sith exalted. He would use his power and his abilities in whatever way he wanted to use them!

He could feel the life of the rebels starting to slip away from their lack of oxygen. But he also felt in that moment Kuvira's body begin to fall. He shook his hand in frustration.

He had to choose, and he had to make that choice now. The universe would not wait for him any longer.

Kuvira could not wait for him any longer!

"AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!" He screamed in rage, frustration and fear as he released his grip on his father and his allies.

As they fell forward. Once again gasping for air. He pivoted on his feet and brought both his arms and all his power to bear on Kuvira as she began to fall down into the fire filled crevasse. She instantly froze in her free fall and he immediately began to bring her back to solid ground.

As he concentrated on bringing her back to safety he noticed two things. First he could hear the boarding ramp of the Millennium Falcon rise and close completely. That could only mean that his bastard of a father had got his allies back inside the ship. Even as he realised that he could hear the ships engines begin to fire up.

The second thing he noticed was that Kuvira was staring at him as she slowly came towards him at his own force command. Emerald met Gold as they stared at each other in a moment when the battle, enemies and even impending exploding planet fell away. In that moment it seemed that they could very well be completely alone in the universe.

She was looking at him with an expression of shock, gratitude, frustration and regret. He could sense her emotions and he saw that she was shocked that he had chosen to save her at the expense of killing the father he despised. She was grateful eh saved her life, obviously. And she was frustrated and regretful that she had not been able to help beyond injuring Chewbacca and that she had not been able to avoid Rey's force repulse in the first place that had led to their enemies escaping.

Just as she was close enough for him to reach out and grasp her extended hand. The planet gave another violent shake and Kylo Ren was sent stumbling forward. Kuvira in turn had just set foot back on the ground and was jolted forward.

They came together with a crash that sent them sprawling to the ground, with Kuvira directly on top of Kylo Ren as the tremors continued and eventually faded away.

Kuvira lept to her feet first. Both to see if there was any chance of stopping the Falcon. And also, to get out of the very compromising position that she and Ren had just been in. But even as she and Ren got to their feet they saw there was no chance.

The Falcon was already rising off the ground. She had no weapons that could stop it and Ren was too exhausted to hold it back with the Force. As they watched the Falcon turned on its axis and blasted off into the sky. In a few seconds it had vanished into the star-studded sky.

Another tremor quickly forced them to realise they needed to get off the planet as soon as possible. Kuvira pulled out her signal beacon to confirm the location. "My ship is a short distance this way, we must get off this planet before its too late." She said in a voice that was not fearful but carried an unmistakable urgency.

Kylo Ren nodded and together they bolted through the tree's as the tremors and earthquakes began to increase in frequency and magnitude. It soon became apparent that they were taking too long to reach the TIE fighter. Kylo Ren was worried that they would either not make it to the fighter before the planet blew up. Or they would not make it before a seismic event left the unattended fighter destroyed or unusable.

They could not afford to waist time. Using the Force to enhance his strength and speed he scooped up Kuvira bridal style in his arms. He was met with only a surprised squeak and he felt her body tense as she consciously resisted her automatic reaction to defend herself with her martial arts training.

Thankfully she quickly realised what he was doing and allowed him to carry her as he sprinted like a dark blur across the snowy landscape.

Within a few moments they found themselves standing by Kuvira's TIE interceptor which had thankfully been spared any damage from the effects of the tortured planet. It only took them a few seconds to get themselves strapped into the cockpit of the fighter. Kylo Ren was sat in the pilot seat. Kuvira was forced to sit on his lap as the space behind the pilot seat would not accommodate a grown person.

This caused an awkward silence to descend on the pair of them as Kuvira tried to pilot the ship while ignoring how she was in a very compromising position that reminded her of how a Twi'lek cantina dancer might have interacted with her clientele.

Meanwhile Kylo Ren was using all of his mental focus and training to ignore the fact that Kuvira's incredibly sharply ass was currently pressed into his lap and in direct contact with his groin. He was also desperately reciting the Sith Code in his head in an attempt to prevent any physical reactions.

Quickly the ship fired up and before long the TIE fighter was heading back to the Retribution as the seismic quakes continued to torment the planet. Whether or not the planet would survive remained to be seen. But that was a matter best discussed and possibly witnessed from the safe distance of the Star destroyer.

As they flew through the skies and space around the planet they noticed a number of TIE fighters that were forming up around them as they flew back to the Retribution. Kylo Ren quickly surmised that these were the survivors of the fighter battle with the Resistance. Neither the enemy fighters nor the falcon was anywhere to be seen. He figured that with their mission to sabotage Starkiller complete, they had already escaped back into hyperspace.

The TIE fighter moved on its way to the Retribution hanger under Kuvira's direction until she was close enough to activate the automated system that would then link with the star destroyer's hanger control and would carry the TIE fighter into the hanger and finish the docking procedure. The principle was the same as having an astromech droid remotely pilot your ship for you. But instead of an attached it droid it was remotely controlled by the star destroyers' central computers.

Kuvira - POV

With no more need to pilot he fighter directly. Kuvira signed and before she could stop herself, she leaned back into the seat to gather her thoughts as she typically did after a mission. When her body came into contact with a warm muscular chest instead of her pilots' seat. She suddenly remembered the circumstances of the flight.

She tensed. But for reasons she could not explain she did not leave her new position. Instead both she and Kylo Ren just sat still for a moment with her sitting on his lap and with her leaning back against his chest. Their faces were almost side to side as she rests her head on his shoulder and they both turned their heads to regard each other in silence.

For a long moment the simply regarded each other as the stresses of the day, the near loss of Starkiller, and the frequent near-death experiences came crashing home to both of them as they began to take stock of everything that had happened during the battle.

Adrenaline that had previously rushed through their bodies began to recede as the brain unleashed waves of natural endorphins and a wide range of other emotional components. It left them both in a state of mind that neither of them was quite used to. It also made them more aware of certain things.

Even when thinking about it much later. Kuvira was still not sure who had made the rest move. She could not say who had acted and who had reacted. Even when her analytical mind was back in control she could not place her exact reasons for what had happened next.

All she knew was that one moment she was looking into Lord Ren's eyes that still burned with a fierce and beautiful golden hue. The next thing she knew, she and Lord Ren had moved forward and had their lips locked in a kiss.

The kiss started out slow and gentle as neither one of them had really planned for this to happen. They were both being carried along by the demands of their subconscious minds and the reactions of the other, instead of actually thinking about it.

But the kiss quickly became more passionate as they allowed the stresses of the day to be expressed and their emotions to be unleashed as they began to grip each other tightly as Kylo Ren moved his arm around Kuvira's shoulders to pull her closer to him. As well as to gain greater access to her mouth. Meanwhile Kuvira was running her hands through Kylo Ren's incredibly fine black hair as she strengthened her hold and pulled him even more forcibly into her embrace.

Kuvira shifted in her seat until she was almost straddling Kylo Ren across the pilot seat. The only think that prevented it from being complete was lack of space. Before long she had locked their mouths again as she grabbed his black robes and pulled him back to her. She ran her tongue against his teeth as she demanded entry and like any good Admiral, when he lowered his defences she struck and thrust her tongue into his mouth with full force.

Kylo Ren answered with his own demands as he moved his hands down her back until he took firm hold of her ass and pulled her even tighter to him as they both struggled to breath between their passionate embraces.

Things might have continued further if they had not both been startled apart when the TIE interceptor dropped own on the docking clamps and was locked into place within the hanger.

Kuvira and Kylo Ren sprang apart as they realised what they had done in almost full view of the First Order hanger crews. Kuvira was personally thanking the Force that it would not have been possible to see them before the TIE fighter was docked due to the angle of the ship.

She could not believe how she had acted so stupidly! She had almost allowed the entirety of the hanger bay and the fighter squadrons to see their Grand Admiral acting little better than a Zeltron whore. She had no doubt that if that had been seen it would have shattered her reputation apart in a way that would take years and many victories to recover from.

She quickly disentangled herself from Kylo Ren as she began to work the locking mechanism for the TIE fighter's hatch. Just before she opened the hatch to leave she paused and turned back to face Ren.

The Sith apprentice had not moved since they had lept apart. He was still sitting in the pilot's seat watching her as she worked the locks.

After a moment of awkward silence, she cleared her throat and tried to get her facial heat under control.

"We will discuss this later." She stated simply.

Then she opened the hatch and began her long journey to the bridge. She was just thankful that she would be able to say that the planeside battle was the reason she looked so dishevelled.

Authors Note

Well this brings The Force Awakens almost to a close.

Wow, over 10,000 words. That is my longest chapter yet. Now I am going to enjoy a strong drink to celebrate and then a long sleep.

See you all next time.