Chapter Twenty-One – Ben
Ben smashed his fist into the wall, denting the panel in front of him in the Millennium Falcon living area. His inability to protect Rey infuriated him. The pain radiating up his hand did nothing to distract him from the horrible agony in his heart.
"Hey!" Han yelled indignantly. "I know you're frustrated, but leave the Falcon alone!"
Ben looked up at the ceiling and huffed. He felt trapped on this ship.
Leia, who'd caught up to them along with Poe, crossed the room and put her hand on Ben's arm. "What happened?"
"I could see Palpatine and he could see me. He still wanted me under his thumb and I was hoping I could lure him away from Rey and Mirabella. But he didn't know who she was! He didn't realize she was his granddaughter. He'd been searching for her because he blamed her for stealing me out of his clutches!" Ben shook his head, wishing he could have said something different to alter what had just played out. "Then Rey lost her temper and gave herself away. Now he only wants her."
Leia gave him a sympathetic smile. "Of course, your girl would have as much spitfire as you."
Ben couldn't help but snort at that. They both had tempers.
"Did you find out where they were at least during your mind trip?" Han asked.
Ben nodded. "Exegol. Rey always suspected that's where he'd be, even if Uncle Luke had already gone looking there. But we can't wait for him any longer. The longer we delay, the more likely we'll lose them both. Uncle Luke will just have to meet us there." Ben stuck his head around the corner of the cockpit. "Punch it, Chewie!"
"Hey, that's my line, kid!" Han shouted.
Chewie howled in response.
Ben shrugged. "Whatever you say, Dad. I've got to use the comm."
When he got back to the living area, he paced back and forth along the length of the room. He itched to train, to throw all his pent-up frustration into working his body. Unfortunately, no space on the Falcon was large enough to allow him to unleash with his lightsaber. He should meditate to re-center himself, but thoughts of Rey laying on the ground in despair tortured his mind. He just needed to get to her.
"Hey, man, you're making me nervous with all that pacing," Poe spoke up.
Ben startled slightly at Poe's admonishment. So absorbed in his own head, he forgot Poe sat in the same room with them. They'd filled him in on most of the details when he'd arrived with Leia. Ben had been somewhat surprised at just how angry Poe had gotten when he heard of Mirabella's kidnapping. "Sorry," he muttered and dropped onto one of the chairs.
"Do we have any kind of plan? Any idea of what we're walking into?" Poe asked.
Ben wracked his brain, trying to dredge up every detail of Exegol from Rey's memories. "Rey will be in the throne room for the ritual and most of the Sith will be there."
"What kind of ritual is this anyway?" Han asked.
"Rey strikes the Emperor down and all the past Sith lords leave his dead body and possess hers. She'll be crowned Empress," Ben explained.
Han winced. "Whether she wants it or not, I bet."
"Exactly. It won't be Rey's choice, and afterwards, it won't really be Rey anymore. She'll be as powerful as the Emperor and possibly just as ruthless. She'll need to be stopped, in any way necessary. You know what that means." Ben wiped a hand across his eyes, emotion threatening to overwhelm him at the thought of ending the woman he loved. "I can't lose her, not like that."
Leia's hand touched his knee. "We'll find her. It's not going to end like that."
Taking a deep breath, Ben pushed those fears down. "Mirabella's probably in one of the dungeons, although I don't know where those are. Despite the ritual, I'm sure they'll be guarded."
"We've got a lot of firepower," Poe remarked.
"Those Sith bastards have my little princess. I'll shoot every last one of them to hell." Han pulled out two blasters, a look of determination on his face.
Ben nodded. "Dad, Poe and Chewie should go after Mirabella. I'll find Rey. Meet back at the ship."
Han and Poe nodded. Chewie stuck his head around the corner and bellowed in agreement.
"Wait!" Leia stood up. "Ben, you make it sound like you can just walk in there and take Rey away. It won't be that easy. I'll go with you."
All the feelings of guilt during his mother's long recovery after facing Snoke rushed back at him. He wanted to tie her up and hide her in the cargo hold to keep her safe, but he knew when it came to Leia Organa, she'd knock him out for even suggesting it. Yet, the thought of her walking into this kind of danger again sickened him.
Instead, he said, "Mom, I need you protecting the Falcon. This is our only ride off that hellhole and if the Sith get it, we're all goners. I'd like you in the gun well so you'll be ready to blast away anyone who even comes close."
Her shoulders slumped, a sure sign she'd relent. Ben remembered it well from childhood. "But you surely can't go alone," she pressed.
"I won't be alone. Trust me."
She shook her head, but said nothing more.
Chewie let out a series of growls. They were nearing Exegol.
Before they landed, Leia pulled both Ben and Han into a tight hug. "You both better come back to me." Steel laced her words. Then she kissed Han on the lips. "Bring back our daughter."
He nodded, his eyes shining a little brighter than normal.
Leia pulled Ben down to her level and kissed him the forehead. "I know how much you love her. Save her."
Ben's heart clenched. He didn't know how, but he knew he must. He couldn't live without her.
They lowered the ramp and then all took off in their respective directions.
Pain
The feel of her anguish washed over him, almost crippling him. The idea that he might be too late plagued him. In response, he tapped into emotions he long ago he restrained deep inside him. He unleashed his full rage and let it consume him. With a roar, he swore to terminate any being that dare harm his love.
Ben sprinted through the passages, trying to navigate to the throne room by way of Rey's memories in his head. He figured he made it about halfway when he heard fast-paced footsteps echoing down the corridor towards him. He pressed his back against the wall and pulled his lightsaber free in anticipation of a fight.
Rey appeared out of the gloom, glancing backwards as she ran at full speed. She looked like she'd already been through hell. Blood seeped out from a wound on her forehead and a split lip. Her left upper arm had been burned, the flesh there an angry red surrounded by black. Her mussed hair stuck out in all directions and she was completely covered in grey dirt. Yet, her being alive made her the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"Rey!" he called out.
Terror
She stumbled backwards, almost falling. He could see the panic in her eyes for a moment, thinking she'd been caught. Then her eyes truly saw him. With a sob, she leapt up and enveloped him. Her arms encircled his torso and she clung to him. He could feel her trembling.
"They're right behind me!" she cried in a broken voice.
"I'll get you back to the ship." He tried to pull her along with him.
She stood her ground, straightening up. Her voice lost the frightened quality, becoming hard. "No! We have to finish this. We must destroy him, once and for all. I don't know if the past Jedi are still with me, but you'll stand with me. Right?"
He paused for just a beat, noticing her choice of words. Then he nodded. "Yes."
She gave him a tight-lipped smile, making him want to kiss her.
More footsteps echoed down the corridor, many of them.
Ben pulled a blaster out of his waistband and handed it to Rey. "I don't have another lightsaber, but this should help." He ignited his lightsaber, the purple light filling the darkness.
The Sith Knights came at them hard. Rey took out four of them with the blaster before they overtook them, but then they were in too close quarters for shooting.
Ben wished he could stand back and just watch as Rey's lithe body gracefully moved around her foes. Using a combination of fighting techniques and her power of the Force, she brought down several of them. He recognized a few of the moves he'd taught her during their two months of sparring.
Unfortunately, Ben didn't have the luxury to continue watching her fight. He had his own enemies to deal with. Two knights came at him together. He pivoted and ducked away from the arch of the left one's weapon. Ben rammed his lightsaber through his middle then shoved the body at the other one, who crashed to the floor under its weight. Then he twirled the lightsaber and thrust it backwards, hitting the one running up behind him.
After dispatching three more, the last one managed to strategically kick him right in the groin as they grappled. Pain exploded through his body, he dropped to one knee and his vision doubled. Despite this, he got his lightsaber up in time to deflect his attacker's next blow. He slashed at the Sith, who leapt back in time to miss being hit.
The Sith Knight rose his weapon up to strike down at Ben once again.
"Enough!" Rey shouted and shot him with the blaster in the head.
He crashed dead to the floor.
Rey rushed over to Ben. "Are you alright?'
"Should have blocked him with my leg," he grumbled. "I'm alright." His pride hurt more than anything else, although he probably would be sore for a day or two. "Nice shot. My dad would be proud."
Rey leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Her lips seared his skin in a way that made his blood race. Then she gripped his elbow and helped haul him to his feet.
Before she could turn away to continue back down the corridor, Ben couldn't resist cradling her face in his hands and kissing her. He poured all his love for her into the kiss.
Rey responded in kind. Her kiss had an almost desperate quality as she wound her arms around his neck and clung to him.
Finally, he had to pull away. "Rey, if we don't make it out of there..."
She shook her head. "Don't."
He nodded. What he didn't say was that if it came down to him or her, he would protect her with his life. If the ghosts of the Sith tried to possess him, he'd kill himself. He doubted she'd ever forgive him for leaving her again, but it would be worth it for her to live.
She started to move forward, but he held her back. He pulled his comm unit out of his pocket. "Now."
Rey tilted her head in question.
"I promised my mom I'd have back up."
He took her hand and together they walked to their fate.