Thus we enter the era of school, an thus ends the era of daily updates; rest in beautiful peace my free-time...
Enter: Weekend updates (Even though this is getting posted Monday)
I kinda wanted to chill and take a break after writing a lot in the last chapter anyways,
I've been constantly thinking of ways too improve this story, and one of them is figurative language. Brushing up on some old skills, I brought some two pages worth of different literary devices and their meanings.
Oh, yea I started to name the chapters too.
I was going to write another story called 'Monster' but it would just take to much time away from this one. Unless I blend parts of that story with this one- which I won't. I'm just rambling
Let me know in the reviews if I should add more romance or more fighting to this story. I feel there needs to be a conflict, but I don't want that to take away from the Reylo dynamic. I have a feeling, that the conflict will only strengthen their bond.
Sorry if you don't ever read these, but thanks if you do!
Keep the follows and reviews pouring in, the more you respond the faster I write.
Thanks again- London.
The sirens blared, cutting through thick haze of the late summer night air. The buzz of the party still hung around the edges of the base, while fighter pilot scrambled and the ships were loaded. On top of the hill that carried the hanger inside it's earth core, Rey was furiously digging through the wooden crate that contained her clothes.
"It was right here!" Rey hissed through gritted teeth, tossing shirts vest and even poncho's to the side; she had forgotten where she had put Luke's light saber. "God damn it!" She yelled, hitting the bottom of her crate clothes strewn across the floor. The night was perfect, until now, everything was lining up to be the night, but no. Realty must put a cap on her feminine teenage dreams. "Ben?!" Rey called, getting up to look at her bed to see if it had fallen off in her sleep. "Have you seen my saber? Or Leia's!?" Rey looked up only for a moment to see if Ben was there, when he strolled in, she returned to destroying her place up the process of looking for the saber. A dazzling scarf whizzed by Ben's head, chuckling at the sight before him, and what he had just seen on he floor next to the door.
"Ahem..." Ben cleared his throat not-so-subtly to get the frantic Jedi's attention. Rey turned to face him, her face flushed "I think I found your missing items?" He casually pointed down next to him, where the two sabers sat neatly propped against the wall. Rey, while sighing with relief, also hit herself in the square in the head with her palm.
"Its not like me to be forgetful.." She muttered, standing up as she slowly walked too pick up her weapon of choice. "I always get nervous before a fight... I just never show it" She muttered angrily, clicking the saber onto her waist; where it was meant to be. Ben sighed, he never was afraid of fighting, but he could imagine why Rey would be.
"It's okay, nothing is going to happen to you Rey." He flashed a reassuring smile at her. Rey hurried past him and out the door, signaling for him to follow Ben closed his mouth, he was going to say more, but figured Rey was in a hurry to get to the Falcon. He rushed after her, out the door and down the long winding path towards the hangar, where ships were fueling up; getting ready for a battle.
"We need to head to debriefing, follow me." Rey said, quickly turning the corner once they got to the hangar. They quickly walked along the cool, black walls on the outskirts of the hangar, avoiding the mass of fighters hurrying to get to their stations. The night air once filled with a calm sense of happiness was now filled with an electrical hum of tension and unease. Following Rey, the two ducked under support beams and skirted around X-wings, eventually making it the large circular holographic debriefing area. Poe, Finn and other high ranking officers stood closest, while the others gathered around.
"What we know so far: is that two Star Destroyers are hovering around the capitol mining city on the moon of Celistac." The group murmured, as Poe kept his situation rundown going. "Many of you know, that is where we get a lot of our explosive materials-" Poe wasn't finished when a Sargent spoke up.
"I thought we destroyed their fleet on Exegol!" The group chimed in with their agreement, Poe let out a sigh looking right at Ben.
"I wish that were the case, but that was only the Emperors fleet, not that of the remaining First Order." Rey, looked at Ben who nodded solemnly, that was true. The group gasped in anger, knowing their war was still very much alive.
"It looks like the First Order is lashing out, maybe in fear- but we have to stop this before they regain control of certain systems." Finn added, propping himself up against the round table, addressing the group as second in command with Poe. They others mumbled their agreements "We need to be careful, the First Order might feel the war is over, so they'll try some dirty tactics." Poe nodded in his agreement
"Watch your six, and watch for war crimes." Finn, after hearing Poe mention war crimes, looked right into Ben's eyes. Rey felt the pang of resentment from across the room, looking at Finn she gave him to eye to knock it off. Poe continued "Ground teams will deploy to the city, secure high population areas and protect the main mining ports- our fighters will try and take out any TIE and Star Destroyers we encounter." He looked around at all the troops surrounding him. "Our main goal is to protect our supply chain, and to keep civilians safe." The group got louder in support, Rey felt a bit of pride, this was always the Resistance she had heard about.
"Lets go." Finn finished, the gathering quickly dispersing away towards their ships and stations. Rey turned to Ben, who just stared at the holographic project of two First Order Star Destroyers.
"You'll ride with me, Poe will give more specific orders in the Falcon." She tugged at his right arm, getting his attention so he would look down at her. "You're doing the right thing- don't let the others discourage you." Rey reached for his hand, wrapping her fingers around his hand. "They'll see how much we need you." She finished her mini speech, and Ben was still uncertain- but more willing to follow her as she lead the way out of the busy hangar to the Falcon, which was already warmed up and ready for flight.
"Rey, is it okay if I use Leia's saber?" Ben asked quietly as the landing bay opened on the Falcon, X-Wings and other Resistances ships taking off in the background. Rey stopped herself to turn and face him, she was already halfway up the ramp.
"Of course it is, she was your mother!" Rey unhooks her second saber from her waist, tossing it at Ben before turning quickly to head up the ramp into the Falcon. Ben smiled, gazing on his mothers saber in his hands. Snapping out of the memories, he followed Rey with long strides.
The sights of hyperspace glowed around Chewie, Rey and Ben. They had all been to battle before, but this one had a different feel. It was, after all, the first time Ben was truly on the side of the light and fighting for it. While for Rey, it was the first time she would fight along side of Ben Solo. They did fight against Snoke together, but she was on an emotional roller coaster with him then.
"Poe is sending us to assist a small squad of soldiers in their attempt to secure city hall and two crucial trading centers." Rey instructed, sitting up right in the chair next to the space chess table. Ben leaned against the wall, listening carefully "He stressed the importance of keeping the populace safe; he also said we need to watch out for city killing weapons- while these are the main targets of our fighters, they could get a shot off." Rey finished up her explanation and Ben thought for a moment, flipping his mothers saber in the air.
"The First Order is going to blow the shit out of this city; one of our-" Ben retracted his pronoun usage "One of their strategies is too instill fear. With the Emperors fleet no more, they are going to want to flew their might." He stood up tall "Rey, they will fire everything they got at all targets, even civilian. We can't hold back-" He looked down again. "I should have spoken up at debrief, but they are going to be more desperate then you think. We might be able to catch deserters and... well if we win this battle the war is one step closer to being over... but if we loose; the war will continue, for awhile" Rey felt her heart sink. It wasn't that she didn't know the importance of this battle, but the loss of life saddened her core.
"I will do everything I can to destroy these monsters." Rey spoke with a certain tone, and Ben could sense her anger. Something about this attack flipped a switch in her. "Ordering attacks on innocent people, who the hell does that?" She hit her hand on the table "It's not always the fighters who loose the most. These poor people will need to rebuild." Ben dropped his gaze, feeling awful again about his past. His malicious actions were driven by forces above him, but it still didn't negate what he had done. I've ordered fire on innocent people before... he quietly thought to himself. Rey sat in silences, fuming over her own words. Feeling her rage, fueled Ben's regret which in turn caused a chemical reaction in his brain. He began to grow angry
"I'm going to kill all of them." He whispered, feeling his anger give him strength. No, Ben stop. You're acting like a Sith again. Rey, could feel the shift of emotions inside the tight metal halls of the Falcon.
"Not if I can get to them first," Rey sneered behind gritted teeth, attempting to control her anger. "They will pay for what they are doing" She added to the comment from Ben. The fearful buzz in the room quickly turned to icy resolve as the two began to rally behind their anger for the obscenities committed by the First Order. Chewie called back as the Falcon neared it's destination, signalling the start of the battle.
"I'll get my things." Ben muttered, walking down a small corridor. When he was out of sight, Rey hit herself lightly; mad that she had let her anger get the best of her. Stop it, Rey, you know what happens when you get furious? Bad things... just breathe. They will get their justice eventually. Rey tried to rationalize with herself. Getting excessively angry was not something she could afford to do, especially with her bloodline, and their current situation. She looked at her hands, all the power she had; the ability to take on divisions of troops by herself. The ability she had to get retribution for all the crimes committed by the First Order was unparalleled by anyone else, except maybe Ben; but Rey was a Palpatine, whether or not she accepted it, did not void the fact her heritage was her greatest power. Rey could use it all, but it would back track all the progress she had made when she refused to strike down her grandfather.
"Anger isn't the enemy." Rey hissed to herself alone in the halls as she felt the Falcon come out of hyperspace. "The First Order is." She stood, feeling the bumps of turbulence. Quickly realizing that Chewie needed her to be the pilot, Rey rushed back to the cockpit, and the sight before her eyes was shocking, even to her.
Scores of tie fighters bombarded the city, their screeching engines roared in a deadly harmony as they wrecked havoc on the innocent. Rey pulled the Falcon's speed lever down, they needed to make a slow approach, an attempt to avoid the scanners. Her eyes caught onto an Interceptor, its speed increased as it flew straight into the side of a building. Oh my god... Rey thought, diving the Falcon down towards the skyline.
"Chewie, we need you to let us out on top of a building near city hall, away from First Order fire- alright?" Buildings rushed below them as they made their landing approach, most fire was diverted from the city to the fleet of Resistance X-wing's arriving in masses. Giving Rey and many of the troop carriers safe access to the grounds of the city. The sounds of their shots thundered above the thoughts in Rey's mind.
No more than two seconds had passed when Chewie had found a safe place to drop off the Jedi, with communication with Resistance ground forces, Rey and Ben would be teaming up with the 7th Calvary division. Rey hurried back out of the cockpit and towards the exit ramp, where she met with Ben. The symphony of Tie and X-wing's engines blended with their shots to form a perfect orchestra; amplified now that Rey has stepped outside.
"Ben! We are going to meet up with the 7th, got it?" Ben nodded while no more than two hundred feet away from them a Tie came crashing down, its explosion casting a heat wave and shooting debris onto Rey's back, pelting the Falcon in hail like pieces of metal. Sounds of small blaster fire also erupted from below them on the street.
"We need to to move!" Ben called, turning before she could answer, heading for a rooftop exit on the Old Republic style building. Rey followed without saying a word, a stray shot riding up and hitting the roof next to them, sending tiny shards of the tiles in all directions. Rey quickly dared into the stairwell, Ben force holding the door opened for her.
Rey didn't speak a word heading down the stairs, nothing needed to be said. The sounds of war penetrated the brick walls of the building, growing more ominous once they were inside, perhaps muffling the explosions lowered the octave they were originally in. The duo's footsteps echoed as they passed each floor, eventually reaching the main lobby. Rey looked around while Ben searched for an exit, the place was empty and the lights flickered with the sound of each explosion. The rumble grew with each new bang, like thunder rolling over the hills.
"Rey! They are here!" Ben had his head poking out of a large window, looking south down the street he saw the squad of Resistance ground forces. Rey hurried through the rest of the lobby. Rey only flinched, not pausing for the earth shattering crack of a Tie getting knocked out of the sky only a block away. She got behind him, clutching the wall Rey peaked her head, and she noticed the troops cross the street to head into the hotel.
"General Rey!" The sergeant called, entering the building first. General? God damn it Poe I am not ready to be a general... Rey turned to face the Sergeant as his squad hurried in behind him. They all looked battle hardened and ready, the opposite of Rey and Ben; who appeared to be like two civilians.
"Yes? Sir what is your name?" Rey asked once everyone was inside, their radios buzzed with info on the ground assault. Ben tilted his head to focus on what was being discus. The Sergeant gave her a salute, his squad taking up defense positions in the hotel lobby, mounting against walls and windows.
"General Rey, I am Sergeant Dvorak." He didn't break his salute, Rey motioned for him to drop it, she was not ready to deal with the formalities. He dropped his salute instantly at her command. "My squad and I are made up of ten light infantry, 5 heavy weapons and two sharpshooters." Ben, who was clearly better with military matter than Rey listened intently. "We are at your command and will be assisting on your mission. I head already briefed my men on what we are going to do, but if there are any changes they will listen to your command." He was so disciplined, Leia had really done a great job with her army. Rey had some big shoes to fill...
"Please, call me Rey." She patted his arm, trying to establish a friendly connection to the Sergeant. "Mr. Dvorak, Ben Solo and I will be leading the way, try to stay close and don't fire at anything that isn't a stormtrooper." She looked him dead in the eye, showing that she was serious. "Ben may be a private, but he is a Jedi. If he does something and needs help, help him." Dvorak nodded, turning to his men.
"You heard the General." He picked up his blaster, returning to a defensive position among his men. Rey smiled, turning to Ben, she gasped as his face was pale.
"Are you alight?" She asked, when she noticed what was probably on his mind. She heard, marching of boots, stormstrooper boots, coming down the street. Ben looked at her, his face returning to a normal color, he unclicked his saber from his hip and ignited it. This action grabbed some of Dvorak's squad by surprise.
"Yes, I am." No later then the last syllable got out of the dark Jedi's mouth, did one of the troops posted up at a window shout the first words of the battle of Celistac for Rey.
"Contact!"
Blaster fire erupted, Rey ducked and grabbed Luke's saber, igniting it. The hum of the elegant weapon buzzed in her ear as shots rang out. Rey had fought before, but most of the large scale conflicts she was left out of due to her value to the Resistance. She hated watching men get treated like pawns and her be treated like a queen. Power surged through her arms and she truly felt like a Jedi, nay, she felt like Rey. But in the light of rifle fire and the saber, Rey could only muster two thoughts.
I'm ready.
There ya go.
Part 1 of a three or so part conflict in the early stages of this novel. I had to make up a planet but its okay.
I really like writing fighting scenes, but they are sometimes very hard. Too much detail can slow down whats meant to be a fast paced action scene; while too little detail can make the story feel like its choppy and hollow.
Its alright.
I'll live.
Except weekly updates, but I'm heading out of town a few weeks from now so there will be a break.
Reviews, favs, and follows are all welcomed and appreciated! Say your opinion, I don't mind
Thanks,
London.