A/N - Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Poe spread the papers out before him, his nimble fingers running over the lines of the streets and homes that he'd hastily sketched into the plans. Luke kept one eye on the drawings and the other warily focused on Ben.
His nephew was wound to the point of breaking, his arms folded firmly over his chest and his jaw locked as he kept his head bowed. This silent, seething Ben was even more frightening than the one that had hacked trees to bits with his lightsaber. This Ben was a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode.
If they didn't get into that palace soon, Luke was worried that Ben would turn on them in order to get to her. He prayed that Ben's reason, and ability to lead, would win out over his determination to get to Rey and the unraveling Luke could sense slithering beneath his nephew's still exterior. He'd been hoping and planning that Ben would be able to keep it together without Rey by his side after the war, but he sure hadn't expected this to happen.
"We can split up through the streets," Poe stated. The drawing wasn't Poe's best, but then he hadn't exactly had the time to put the detail into it that he normally would have. The oher group they had planned to send into the town had become more of a rescue team when they stumbled across Poe, Finn, and Rose trying to escape the stormtroopers. "The town won't divide us as much as we thought. The roads are big enough for us to move through in large groups that won't be easily taken down by whatever stormtroopers remain there. Though, I suspect that after today Snoke will increase his forces within the town."
"Or he'll pull them all behind the palace walls and into the palace town in order to strengthen his forces there," Finn murmured. "We know he cares little for human life, it is the palace he'll look to protect the most."
"Finn's right," Ben's voice was strained but he didn't lift his head to look at them as he remained focused on the ground. "Snoke may even send some troopers into the woods to search for me, but from here on out the full force of his might will be concentrated within the walls surrounding the palace."
"How will he know you're here?" Rose inquired. "Just because Rey was discovered it doesn't mean he knows that you're here, that any of us are here."
Ben's jaw grated back and forth, his hands clenched on his biceps.
"He may suspect there is a militia within these woods, but he will know that I am here. I may be able to conceal my Force signature better than Rey, which is likely how he knew she was coming. But he will sense the strength of our bond and know that I will not be far away."
Rose hesitated, before nodding.
"I see."
Poe's fingers tapped on the drawing as his focus turned to Ben.
"I also believe the town should be razed as we move through it."
Luke raised an eyebrow at Poe's words. Ben's head slowly turned toward him.
"There are likely some innocents in that town," Ben reminded him.
Luke's interest was piqued as he studied his nephew. He was showing signs of concern and reasoning beyond Rey again. Was it possible that Ben was actually going to keep it together? Was it possible that Rey and Ben could be separated after the war?
He felt no hope at the realization. If Rey survived this, the worst thing Luke would ever do in his lengthy life was take her away from Ben again. They had all done things they didn't want to do though, and they would all do far more before this war was over.
Poe was paler than normal, but his eyes were unwavering.
"That town is a death trap. If Snoke doesn't pull all of his troopers from the town, and they somehow get the chance to come up behind us, there will be nowhere for us to retreat to if it becomes necessary. There are far too many homes and places for them to hide and wait for us. It should be burned as we move through so they can't be given the chance to set a trap for us."
Poe's gaze darted to Leia. She was just as pale as Poe, her lips firmly pressed together as she stared at the hastily scrawled plans.
"There are innocent casualties in every war, and it needs to be done," Leia confirmed.
"They aren't that innocent," Finn growled. "Burn it all, and make sure we burn that bastard Hux with it."
"Finn," Leia's tone of voice was low and warning. "This is not for revenge, no matter how badly you want it to be, that is not what we are about. We will limit the amount of innocent blood that is shed."
Finn shot her a dark look, but held his tongue. Leia stared at her son for some sort of confirmation, but when none was forthcoming, Luke responded.
"We will."
Leia didn't look overly relieved, but she didn't press the issue. Luke watched Ben as he approached the table and plans. The others stood behind him as they awaited his decision.
Luke knew the majority of the Resistance could sense something off in Ben, but for now they seemed willing to trust his judgment. Luke didn't know what would happen if Ben refused to see reason and put them all in peril, didn't know what would happen if Ben turned on them to vent his wrath.
"If we set the town on fire it will also provide an effective distraction for you to slip into the tunnel you spoke of," Poe continued.
"We'll take what weapons we can from the town, and level it as we go," Ben declared as he settled his eyes on Finn. "But Hux is mine."
Luke felt a crack, a sizzle of power that shot through the air like a lightning bolt. He'd never experienced anything like it, not even when his father was at his deadliest had he radiated a destructive force as strong as the one that radiated from within Ben.
Luke had known that Ben could destroy Snoke if it became necessary, but he realized now that he wasn't entirely certain if his nephew would survive it. He wasn't sure if Ben would be able to return from the depths he would delve into if he completely lost it and allowed the monster within him to rule.
"We'll move on the palace tonight."
"Not tonight," Leia inserted quickly. Luke was half afraid his nephew would rip his mother in half from the look he gave her. "We require more time to plan, more time to maneuver. Not all of our forces have landed, we're still working on arming our ground troops, and we have to gather supplies. If we go in before we're fully prepared we'll lose."
Luke tried to ignore the dark eyes glaring at him. It was a disconcerting sight that left him a little rattled. For the first time he truly realized the cruelty Ben was willing to unleash and inflict for her. Ben was holding onto control because he knew where she was, knew that she was still alive and certain that he would get her back. If something were to happen to her before then…
There would be no control, and there would be many deaths before Ben was stopped.
Luke realized that he'd been completely wrong. His plan with Leia to keep them separate after the war never would have worked. Ben would hunt her to the end of the galaxy, and they never would have been able to get far enough away from the rampage he would go on.
That was a problem for another time though. For now, they had to keep Ben calm enough to see reason, to wait and organize, and to get them successfully into the palace. To get Rey back from Snoke.
"Rey would never forgive us if we rushed in and ruined everything," Finn told him. "I want her back too, but we'll fail if we aren't prepared. If we lose because we're careless, then who knows what they'll do to her after?"
Ben remained still for a moment, then faster than anyone could anticipate he drew his lightsaber and slashed through the center of the table. Poe and Rose jumped back as papers and debris scattered about their feet. Finn closed his eyes as his head bowed. He had stated his opinion, but he'd still hoped that Ben might choose the course of action they all knew to be wrong.
"Get the supplies, the weapons, and make sure those troops get here soon!" Ben snarled before he disappeared into the woods.
Luke glanced nervously at the gathered Resistance leaders. Their eyebrows were raised questioningly as they watched Ben fade into the woods.
Leia opened her mouth to spin some tale but closed it and threw her hands in the air.
"Oh, what does it matter anymore?" She turned away from them and walked over to join Luke. "Cat's pretty much out of the bag anyway."
"The cat shredded that bag," Luke muttered in return.
"He cares for the girl more than you let on," One of the generals spoke up. "How deep is their bond?"
"They are close," Leia hedged, and the generals muttered among themselves.
"You claimed them to be Jedi," Another accused.
"They are Jedi," Luke interjected. "Just not in the traditional sense."
"This information would have been useful before we agreed to join in this endeavor, before we threw our support behind a leader who is volatile and not even a true Jedi."
Apprehension trickled through Luke, but they couldn't back out now.
"As he has just proven, Ben will put the greater good and our needs above his own," Leia explained calmly. "He may not like it, but he has agreed that it's what must be done."
The generals exchanged looks before nodding.
"And after the war, these two will remain as Jedi, protecting us?" One of them prompted. "They will not attempt to further their relationship?"
Leia's gaze met Luke's as she hesitated.
"Yes," She replied quietly. "I can agree to those terms."
"It's not your agreement we care about," One of them added. "It's Ben's. These terms need to be met."
"They will be met," Luke assured them.
"How can you be so certain?"
"Rey is sensible, much more so than my nephew," Luke explained. "She understands what needs to be done for the good of the galaxy. She knows they will not follow them as Gray Jedi, or as lovers."
The Resistance leaders conveyed their approval, before moving away. Leia's shoulders sagged as she turned back to Luke and Rey's friends.
"What is this nonsense about Rey having to leave Ben?" Rose demanded.
Luke sighed.
"After the war ends, we will need to establish a new order. Many planets and civilizations will need to be liberated, and then swayed to join us. The galaxy looks to the Jedi for hope, for leadership. They will not follow Rey and Ben if they continue this way."
"You don't know that!" Rose shot back. "My friend's happiness should not have to be sacrificed!"
"It won't be," Poe affirmed, glaring at Luke. "Rey deserves the love she has."
"And what about Ben?" Finn asked skeptically. "You really expect him to just accept this?"
"He can't know about this, about any of this," Leia told them. Her face was hollow, but her shoulders were set in determination. "Ben cannot know about this discussion, or about this plan, no matter what you think of it. He'll destroy us all, he'll storm the palace with little thought to anyone else, and he'll get them both killed in the process."
"Neither of us like it," Luke added. "At all. This was not an easy decision and it was not made carelessly."
Finn stared blankly at him for a moment.
"I don't trust you. I think this is the perfect way to continue on your little Jedi order, using the galaxy as an excuse to force Rey and Ben into a corner."
"I want happiness for Rey, and for my son," Leia interjected. "But sometimes what we want no longer matters."
Finn just scowled, studying the two Skywalkers as he contemplated whether or not he should tell them that he didn't believe any of their plans would work, or that the only reason Ben was even remotely sane right now was because Rey was still alive and within his reach.
Finn decided to remain quiet. He didn't trust how the siblings would react when they realized there would be no separating them.
A/N - I hope you liked reading the perspectives of some of the other characters! I thought it would be a cool change of pace while we transition into some of the action.
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)