Glitter and Gold (Formerly known as The Light Within)

Chapter 27

34 ABY – Jakku

"Why did I let him talk me into this?" Vex questioned herself, teeth chattering from the cold. As hot as Jakku was during the daytime, it was just as cold as night. She pulled the dark jacket tighter around her, peering towards the small village just over the next dune.

That's where Poe was. Talking to Lor San Tekka, who Vex had located under extreme protest. Helping the Resistance find Luke hadn't been an easy choice. She still wasn't sure if it was the right one.

The truth was that Vex didn't know where to find Luke. She hadn't wiped it from her mind as Leia and Poe had suggested. Instead, she thought it must have been Luke who wiped it away when she'd left. She remembered everything – it was her journeys to and from his sanctuary that had been blurred.

She remembered the green, the mountain, the temple, her hut, the Lanai women. But the planet? Vex couldn't recall the name. She knew it was beyond the Outer Rim territories, in the Wilds. Beyond that, Vex couldn't say. So she'd agreed to help them find Luke.

Even though it felt like betrayal.

Poe was supposed to go on this mission alone but Vex had insisted on accompanying him. She'd had a strange feeling – a ominous foreboding that something terrible would happen. She wouldn't let Poe go alone.

So here Vex was. On Jakku, freezing her ass off as Poe charmed Lor San Tekka into turning over his information on Luke. If anyone could do it, it was Poe. He could charm the pants off just anyone.

Vex lacked that grace. She was blunt, to-the-point and often off-putting, or so she'd been told. People didn't find her likeable. Likely a result of being raised by Snoke. God knows what Poe saw in her. He was good and kind, and nothing like Vex.

An odd feeling overtook Vex, one that took her a moment to understand. She felt him coming. A life force she was intimately familiar with. The First Order was coming. A cold pit in her stomach unfurled, like icy fingers spreading through her body. If she could feel him, Kylo Ren could surely feel her.

"BB-8! Get Poe, tell him to get his ass back to the ship! The First Order is coming now!" Vex cried, lunging toward the ship to pull her belt from her seat. BB-8 dropped out of his perch, whirring over the sand dune in alarm.

She snatched her lightsaber off the belt, finger hovering over the ignition. She watched the droid make it across the village and into the hut that held Poe and Lor San Tekka. Then Vex looked to the skies. Dark as it was, it gave no clues as to how close the First Order ships were. But she could feel them. There was no time.

Vex decided she couldn't wait, sprinting over the dune and toward the village, lightsaber clenched in her hand. Her heart thudded in her throat, breath coming out in harsh bursts. A few moments after BB-8 had entered the hut, Poe darted out. The two nearly collided as they met in the middle of the village, as the harsh lights of the First Order ships appeared, landing on the outskirts of the village.

"Vex!" Poe cried, taking hold of her arm as they quickly righted themselves and ran back towards their ship.

"Do you have it!?" she questioned as BB-8 whirred past them to get the ship started. Poe gave a sharp nod as they ran past villagers setting up defenses against the lowering ramps of the First Order ships.

It was just as they made it to the ship that the Stormtroopers began to gun down the villagers. Poe paused as he started to climb into the ship, eyes glued to the gruesome scene. Vex followed his eyes, frowning. "Vex," he said, turning his gaze to her.

Vex sighed. "I just want you to know this is suicide, Poe," she said, hand tightening around her lightsaber. Poe dropped down from the ship, touching her shoulder gently.

"Those people are dying because we came here, Vex," he said.

She let out a frustrated breath. "I know," Vex growled, glancing back towards them. The blasters going off, the cries of pain and anguish. She hated that it was so easy for her to ignore. "I can try to hold them off for a few moments. Allow the villagers to escape," she offered, uncertainly.

Poe nodded quickly. "I'll get the ship ready," he promised, leaning forward to press his lips to hers. Vex sighed into the kiss, reaching out to tug his dark curls hard. "I love you," he whispered, pulling back to search her eyes for a quick moment.

He knew that she loved him. She didn't have to say it. It was the only reason she was here. Risking her life. Vex simply kissed him hard, and then turned to the village. "You may have to leave without me. You getting out of here alive is much more important," she said, voice hard. She didn't turn to look at him.

"Vex," Poe uttered, a tremor to his voice. "I'm not leaving without you,"

Vex didn't respond, rolling the hilt of the lightsaber in her hand. She didn't tell him Kylo Ren was here. If she did, he wouldn't let her do this. Save him. Then she was off, dashing over the dune, violet lightsaber flashing to life as she approached the chaotic village.

"STOP!" she shrieked, raising one hand in a vice-like gesture. The Storm-troopers fell still, frozen in place by her power. Vex had to close her eyes for a moment, the power her control took over so many was much. "GO!" she growled towards the villagers.

Dumbstruck, the villagers simply looked at her. "This is your chance! Get away, now! I can only hold them all so long!" Vex yelled, gritting her teeth. The muscles in her hand were held so tightly that they were beginning to cry out in pain – but she feared if she let them relax, even for a moment, she'd lose control of the Stormtroopers.

The villagers abandoned their weapons and ran, shouting out words of thanks in different languages as they escaped. Not many got away. Most already lay dead around her. A pain lanced around her mind, causing Vex to wince, a reminder of the great exertion she'd taken on.

It was as she held the Stormtroopers still that a third ship landed. A ship she recognized. His ship. Kylo Ren had arrived, and he surely knew she was here. Her heart leapt to her throat. "Vex!" a voice carried over the dunes. Poe. It was time to go, but she just couldn't.

Kylo Ren stalked down the ramp of his ship, helmet fixated on her. "Lady Reaper," his distorted voice greeted. "Now this is a surprise,"

Vex was frozen in both fear and apprehension. She knew she could not expect any help from him this time. "Kylo," she managed to utter in response. His helmet tilted to the side, carefully watching as her body trembled from exertion.

"Your powers have grown," he observed, gesturing to the Stormtroopers she held still. Thirty-eight of them. Two units, two men down. Vex gritted her teeth, her body shaking as she began to reach her limit. "But I can't imagine your saber skills have, with no one to fight," Kylo continued, drawing his own lightsaber from his belt. The sudden ignition of the blade and its flight towards her forced her swift decision.

Vex dropped her hand – loosing control of the Stormtroopers – and slashed her lightsaber up to block his. Red and purple crackled on contact, the unstable property of his cracked kyber crystal drowning out hers.

All blasters were now trained on her. But it honestly didn't matter. Kylo Ren would never allow them to shoot her. Snoke would want her alive.

"I'm not going back," she hissed, purple and red reflecting on his reflective helmet.

Kylo Ren forced both sabers down towards her, dangerously close to her face. "I'm afraid there is no choice involved here," was his response.

"There's always a choice!" Vex cried in response, stomping on his foot and swirling away, saber kept defensively before her.

He advanced, as close to a monster as she'd ever seen him before. What had Snoke done to him!? The man she'd known before, the father of her child – would never have hurt her. Snoke had pushed him beyond his limits.

"No, there isn't," Kylo Ren growled, before leaping to attack.

Vex fought quickly, blocking each blow hastily. He was right. She was out of practice. Once, Vex had been better than him. But she hadn't truly fought someone in nearly four years. Kylo Ren's onslaught grew faster and faster, more frenzied with each strike, just as Vex slowed with each strike.

She knew it was just a matter of time. She only hoped Poe had seen sense and escaped. Somehow, she doubted it. The quick distraction, the thought of Poe, cost her. A slash of Kylo Ren's blade arced up her torso, her lightsaber falling from her hand, extinguished. A cry of pain left her lips.

Vex fell, a line of fire burning from hip to shoulder. She breathed out slowly, a grimace crossing her features. His hand outstretched, calling her lightsaber to his hand. "For what it's worth, Vex. I'm sorry," Kylo said lowly, kneeling down beside her.

"We all do what we have to," she managed through gritted teeth, pressing a hand to her wounded shoulder. She drew it away with a hiss – he'd cut her deep. Black was beginning to ring her vision.

"I'm glad you understand," he said, touching her forehead with gloved fingers.

Everything went black.

Review, Please.

Thanks to my one reviewer last chapter - Mstngsali1!

Thoughts?

I changed the title and description. I think it fits a little bit better. The song, Glitter and Gold by Barns Courtney, just feels like Vex to me. Listen to it. It's a bop (is that what you kids say?)

Much love, Suz Singer.