"That's an old craft ID." Poe and Finn huddled around a map. Someone, flying a resistance X-wing was sending them coordinates. "That's Luke Skywalkers X-wing." Poe explained sounding slightly confused. Who was flying it?

"It's transmiting course signals to the unknown regions-" C-3PO waddled where he stood, his memory having been returned kindly by R2-D2

"It's Rey!" Finn smiled, happy to know she was okay. "She's going to Exegol." BB-8 beeped happily. Leia walked towards them, she'd been sitting in her chambers thinking. She knew what was about to happen and she knew what she had to do. "Commander Poe." She spoke clearly.

The commander turned around and Leia put something in his hand. It was a general's badge. "General?" Poe's eyes widened.

"No, not anymore. It's your turn." She closed his hand on the badge.

"But what about you?"

"I've finish my journey, now it's time for you to continue yours, even if it's without me."


It was crowded inside the X-wing. Han had seemed to find a new energy and was trying to touch every button and drive the ship himself. He smiled up at her, his hazel eyes bright.

It was hard to concentrate on steering the ship, but Rey was a gifted pilot. "We're almost there." She didn't know whether or not those words were supposed to give her or Han comfort, but he seemed to sense of fear. A small hand rested on her hand and she held it tightly. She had no idea what to do with Han once she had arrived. Luke had said to bring him, but that was crazy.

A small beeping on her radar told her she had arrived. The sight she saw next made her blood run cold. Hundreds, thousands of Star Destroyers, all brandishing planet killing weapons, hovered above the ground. The dark sky lit up with blue flashes of lightning and a wide metal structure grew out of the dry, lifeless ground.

The X-wing wobbled and she relieved she was shaking. It didn't surprise her that, although they took notice of her, none of the Star Destroyers fired at her tiny Starfighter. Both lightsaber were clipped to her belt and her hand itched to ignite them. But she wasn't the only one her was afraid. Han, startled by the threatening ships and frightening planet, hugged his mother.

She placed a hand on his head, stroking his hair. "It's okay." Rey whispered as she landed the ship. Another flash of lightning lit up the sky. "Stay here." She ordered leaving her son in the X-wing. He gave a small cry but she ignored it, she had to do this alone. Luke was wrong, how on earth could a one year old boy help her.

Then it suddenly hit her, like a blaster bolt to the chest. It was Han's birthday. She looked back at the X-wing, her son still watching her. Her emotions seemed to cloud her vision and something wet trickled down her cheek before she ran into the abyss.

It didn't take her long to find the entrance, she flinched when the ground beneath her hovered down into the crust of the planet, revealing a dark underground church. A Sith Church. Sith followers were walking about but paid little mind to her, her hand went to Luke's saber as she cautiously walked through the long stone halls. Somehow, lightning still lit up the darkness and in the distance she heard something. Chanting. Huge stone statues of former Siths' stared down at her with cold, empty eyes.

The chanting continued.

The language wasn't any she knew, but it sounded wrong and her gut twisted as it grew louder with every echoing step.

Her heart hammered in her chest, only once had she felt the fear she was feeling now and that was when she thought she'd killed her son. 'Facing fear is the destiny of a Jedi', Luke's words rung in her head. "Destiny of a Jedi, destiny of a Jedi." She repeated over and over again.

Then she was standing, in what seemed like the center of the cathedral, shaped like a Colosseum. Men and women, Sith followers, were all dressed in dark cloaks that covered their faces. Their chanting ceased when she arrived.

"Long have I waited..." A voice she'd never heard before, but was all so familiar, came from behind her. She turned around. An old man, with white undead eyes and rotting flesh, tied to a strange machine, hovered down to her. A wicked smile lit up his face. "For my grandchild to come home." Lightning flashed brightly, illuminating the Emperor's face. "I never wanted you dead, I wanted you here, Empress Palpatine." He guested to the throne made of stone.

Spikes seemed to grow out from behind it, she'd seen this throne before. It had called to her in her dreams. "So, where is my great grandson?" He asked and Rey's heart stopped.

"Safe from you."

"Is he? I will send someone to get him." He flicked his hand and one of his guards, dressed in blood red armour, marched off.

"No!" She hissed, trying to run after the guard, but Palpatine pushed her back with a single stare. He held in place with the force and no matter how hard she fought, she could not break free of his grasp. "You will take the throne, it is your birthright to rule, here. it is in your blood. Our blood."

"I haven't come to lead the Sith, I've come to end them!"

"As a Jedi?"

"Yes."

"No, your hatred, your anger. You want to kill me... that is what I want." He smiled, showing off his burnt and broken teeth. His hold on Rey disappeared, but her body remained tense. "Kill me and my spirit will pass into you, as all the Sith live in me, you will be Empress. We will be one!"

The words terrified Rey and it was almost as if Palpatine was still holding her in place with the force. She couldn't move. But she had to move, Han needed her. The fear was overwhelming. Palpatine sensed this and relished in the feeling of success. "The time has come!" He raised his arms and the Sith followers chanted in return. "With your hatred you will take my life, and you will ascend."

"All you want me to do is hate, but I won't."

"Weak," he spat the word in disgust. "Like your parents."

Rey looked him dead in the eye, trying to muster what was left of her determination and courage. "My parents were strong. They saved me from you."

"Your master, Luke Skywalker, was saved by his father. The only family you have here, is me." Rey didn't know how to reply, but she refused to accept it. The Emperor looked up and as he did, the ceiling creaked open revealing the fight that'd begun above them. Rebel fighters were trying to overpower the legion of Star Destroyers and from the look of it, they were losing pilots quickly. Her whole body shook. "No." She breathed.

"They don't have long. No one is coming to help them, and you are the one who led them here." His voice was smug. "Strike me down, take the throne. Rain over the new Empire and the fleet will be yours. Only you have the power to save them. Refuse and your new family dies."

Rey suddenly felt something. A familiar feeling in the force, only different. Hope, confusion and longing whirled inside of her. She glanced at her grandfather and blocked her mind so he wouldn't be able to read it. She turned around and nodded. "Good." Palpatine slurred.


Ben had spent hours, trying to locate a Tie fighter in the wreckage of the Death Star that he could quickly repair. Once he'd found one and fixed the necessary parts he returned to Exegol for the second time.

It was just as gloomy as he remembered, only now X-wings filled the sky and were suffering great losses. He flew straight down towards the Sith chapel once he landed the TIE he could feel Rey's presence. She was scared, yet she knew he was here. Then she was gone.

Rey was in trouble. But that wasn't the only presence he sensed. As he climbed out of the TIE Fighter, his head turned to Luke's X-wing. One of Palpatine's guards was trying to carry something. Something that was screaming and wriggling uncontrollably. It was Han.

Anger grew inside of Ben. No, it wasn't anger, it was something else. It was a need to protect his child. He pulled out his blaster but thought better of it, what is he hit Han? Ben had changed from his old uniform into a plain black sweater. Now he ran towards the guard who finally noticed him. The guard put down the infant and tried to throw a punch at Ben.

But he quickly kicked the guard's legs from under him. The guard fell and Ben ran to his son. The young boy stopped crying and looked back at him with bright hazel eyes, like his mother's. Rey.

He heard movement behind him and looked over his shoulder. The guard had risen up and was aiming his weapon, a long sword, for Ben's chest. But before he could strike, a huge chunk of earth smashed into his head, bursting into a million pieces. Han's little hand was outstretched and he giggled at his father's surprised face.

The laugh was real, how long had it been since he'd made someone laugh? He couldn't remember as he scooped up his son and ran into the cathedral.

The entrance had already been opened, there was only one way down. He held Han tightly and jumped into the abyss, catching himself with one hand on a long chain dangling from the ceiling. "Ow." He grunted, checking on Han.

He looked shaken, but luckily hadn't been hurt. "Hold on buddy."


Palpatine's words seemed to evaporate. Han was safe, she could feel it. "She will strike me down, and pledge herself as a Sith!" She snapped back to attention. The Sith followers chanted, faster and faster. Lightning lit up the Colosseum again. The fear drifted away, help was coming. She wouldn't have to do this alone, Han was safe and soon so would her friends.


Ben skidded around a corner, pointing his blaster behind him and shooting a guard without even looking. With determination and the force on his side, he felt like he could do anything. But he remembered who he was doing this for. Rey needed him. Han made a fearful cry and Ben stopped when six figures, dressed in black, blocked his path and began to circle him like hungry vultures.

The Knights of Ren. The knights glanced down at the child and Ben could sense them smirking behind their masks. They were amused at how Kylo Ren, the killer of thousands, was holding onto this child like it was his life's purpose. Ben threw his hand forward attempting to use the force. It tossed back one of the Knights and the others ran in for the attack, their weapons raised.

He dodged a blow. Han nearly slipped out of his hands and he bent down to catch him, the minute he did one of the Knight's staffs slammed into his face, another hit to the jaw greeted him straight afterwards. Something was thrown at his stomach sending him doubling over onto his knees, one more a metal staff whacked his face causing his lip to bleed.

A dark bruise decorated his right eye as he tried to stand up. The Knights didn't attack, they just watched with satisfaction.


"She will take her revenge and with a stroke her saber, the Sith are reborn." Rey activated her lightsaber, walking towards the Emperor slowly, raising her weapon. "The Jedi are dead!" Everything went silent as the bound between her and Ben reconnected. She could see him. Barely standing, surrounded by Knights while holding onto Han. The blade of Luke's saber lit up her face and she felt a wave of serenity washed over her as Ben gave a short nod. She nodded in return.

"Do it! Make the sacrifice!" Palpatine hissed. Rey lifted the saber behind her back as if preparing for a huge killing blow. Palpatine closed his eyes, readying himself.

But when Rey revealed her hand, the lightsaber was gone. Palpatine watched in horror, his machine pulling him back as his guards attacked the Jedi.