Twenty Eight.

"Rey."

The word was weak, barely a breath, but it was there. She gave something halfway between a laugh and a sob.

"Ben," she whispered. "You're alive." He shakily raised a hand to lightly touch her cheek with the tips of his fingers, the gentle touch a very human, a very tender gesture.

"I hope so," he managed. "Be very disappointed…if this was just a dream…" She smiled then and he reciprocated, his features lighting with the grin.

"It's really you," she whispered. "Not Kylo-Ben."

"I think both of them…are versions of me…but I'm back in the Light…" he sighed, grimacing. He shifted his position slightly. "This really isn't the most comfortable bed," he added. Rey nodded.

"Are you okay otherwise?" she asked and the smile dropped a little.

"Had a busy time since you…went," he admitted. "But I'm alive-we're both alive-and anything else can heal…" Rey stared into his eyes-then lunged forward, pressing her lips to his and he immediately responded, kissing back, his hand gently cupping the back of her neck. She was everything he had ever imagined, that unique mix of sweetness and ferocity that was Rey. She was inexperienced and he hadn't had much more practice but there was an urgency in her kiss that filled his senses, supplemented by the desire he felt surge down the Bond, tempered with her relief that he was back with her once more. And he never wanted to let her go…until he felt her pull away and then he gently released her. He was grinning then, his entire face lit once more with a broad grin that transformed his stern features.

"I've been wanting to do that since…forever," she said, a blush warming her cheeks.

"Ahch-To," he absently murmured and then met her eyes. "Because I've been wanting to do that for at least as long." He swallowed and looked into her eyes, shields down and free from all artifice. "Because I love you."

"Touching though this is, does anyone remember there is a war going on above us?" Poe asked in an impatient voice. Both Rose and Finn hit his arms simultaneously. "Hey-but there are still stormtroopers out there and I need to know if we're kicking their butts or not…" He was interrupted as the familiar sounds of the Millennium Falcon's engines drowned them out and the freighter spun and landed rather awkwardly on the uneven ground of the plateau, the backwash almost knocking them over. Poe was on his feet instantly with Finn at his side, both heading straight to the ship. Giving a stream of relieved beeps, BB-8 rolled along after them before Rey and Rose managed to manhandle Ben to his feet. He grimaced and nearly fell, his legs buckling and needing Rey and Rose to support him as he stumbled up the ship. Jannah was waiting, her eyes wide as she stared at Rey.

"I really didn't think it was possible…" she murmured as the Jedi paused and turned, gesturing. The two lightsabers and her staff flew into her hands before she resumed half-dragging the listing Ben onto the freighter. He leaned against the wall as the ramp closed and Jannah turned back to the main passageway. Up in the cockpit, he could hear Zorii and Poe arguing over who should fly the Falcon. Rey's face hardened and she glared.

"Go," Ben said. "I'll be alright. And this is your ship, after all." Suddenly shy, she looked up into his eyes.

"Actually, I think it should be yours," she said but he gently lifted her chin with one finger.

"Rey," he sighed. "I think I gave up my claim on this ship when I murdered my father. He would want you to have it because I think…in the short time he knew you…he saw in you the daughter he never had. And maybe the child he wanted." There was a tinge of pain to his tone but he was nothing but sincere. "So he would want you or Chewie to have her. And I think you can stop those idiots arguing and get us out of here. I'll be fine." She gave a small nod and ran as he finally sagged. Rose frowned.

"You're not completely healed, are you?" she asked, seeing the answer in his face.

"Nowhere near," he admitted. "I'm alive which is a shock…and I'm free of the Darkness again. I just need to concentrate of making sure she doesn't know for the moment." The woman nodded and inserted herself under his arm.

"Let's get you strapped in," she said firmly. "I think it's going to get bumpy."

They had barely made the crew quarters when the whole ship juddered and an irate Zorii came stalking in.

"Of all the arrogant self-important smug smarmy stick-jockeys…" she spat as she saw the listing shape of Ben. "She asked him to fly! And I thought she was alright!" Rose stared at her.

"Poe has flown the Falcon before in combat," she tried to explain.

"I would have known you would side with her," she snapped.

"You're a good pilot and a good shot," Rose soothed her. "And if we're heading up, we're going to need gunners." Zorii paused.

"What's up with Commander Disaster?" she asked and then frowned. "You know there was a broadcast that showed you being killed? It flashed up before we took off." Rose gave a small smile.

"I'll explain later," she said as the ship jolted. Nodding, the other woman vanished towards the guns as Finn charged down to join her. Ben inspected Rose carefully as she pushed him onto the seat by the table and strapped him in.

"So news of my death may have been exaggerated?" he commented dryly.

"Not at all," Rose told him. "I asked BB-8 to record what happened. And when you died, I had written myself a note to broadcast it. It happened. It's just…no one knows you were brought back." The ship jolted.

"But unless we're lucky, I might be gone again," he added sarcastically. "What the Kriff is happening?" Jannah stumbled in, her eyes concerned, followed swiftly by Beau.

"The First Order."

-o0o-

General Hux was seething. His plans had been perfectly laid, his trap planned to perfection-and suddenly the entire situation was spiralling out of control. He had reached out on top secret frequencies for any remaining First Order ships and to his shock, the Finalizer had responded, arriving at the specified co-ordinates promptly. Hux had never liked Captain Peavey, strongly believing the man was laughing at him behind his back, but he was at least competent. And he had acquiesced when Hux demanded his cooperation in the mission and had provided stormtroopers for the planetary assault. There had been very limited life-form readings from the planet-but tracking the Millennium Falcon had been simple-and that was what Hux wanted.

Ren was what Hux wanted. He wanted him on his knees, begging for mercy. Beaten and bloodied, cowed and powerless, his entire life hanging on Hux's mercy. And oh, Hux was determined to grant him none. In his dreams, sadistic and vengeful as they were, he had already imagined every possible torment for the man who had thwarted and abused him over and over. For every Force-choke and snide comment, Hux would repay him ten-…no, a hundred-fold.

But something had happened. The troop transports had been taken out, killing a number of troopers and sending the remainder into retreat. He had ordered them to advance again but in the meantime, the Millennium Falcon had gotten off the ground. And worse, a collection of ships had appeared and attacked the two Resurgent Class Destroyers. There were eighteen heavy cruisers, heavily armoured, that were inflicting significant damage as well as a flock of smaller Resistance fighters. Hux had ordered the TIEs to engage and brought the cannons on line.

It was chaos, one of the reasons Hux hated traditional battles. Sure, the Eliminator was heavily armed with new and more powerful weapons than a normal star destroyer but there were a lot of Rebel ships and they were coordinated and determined to inflict a defeat. Peripherally, Hux paid attention to the reports of the battle, snapping orders to correct sloppiness in the line and urging his men on. After all, battle was in his blood, the son of a General and the rightful Supreme Leader.

But somehow, the rebels were faster and more nimble, attacking the Destroyers and sliding in between their shields to inflict strafing runs. It was humiliating that such ragtag ships could be in danger of defeating the most efficient, most brilliantly constructed force the Galaxy had ever seen! It was time to bring out the big guns.

"Prepare the Ventral Phase Cannon!" he ordered. "Let's see if these Resistance scum can withstand our newest technology." Pride swirled through him and he watched as his gunnery crews line up and bring the full force onto the nearest cruiser. It was technology similar to that of the old Death Star and the Planetkiller Guns that Pryde and his lackeys had deployed across the fleet-but Hux had developed it all himself and he was certain it was superior and possessed none of the fatal weaknesses that had plagued the original and Starkiller Base. So it was with the pride of a father looking on a child's achievements that he smiled as the roiling energy punched straight through the shields and blasted the largest vessel to atoms.

"Line up on the next ship!" he ordered.

"Sir-may I remind you that using the weapon drains our batteries and will lower the shields?" Captain Rinder asked respectfully. Hux breathed in sharply and nodded once.

"It doesn't matter," he spat. "Another couple of shots and they will break and run. Once they realise that they can't defeat us, they will skulk away like the cowards they are!" He nodded. "Recharge the cannon."

-o0o-

"WHAT THE KRIFF?" Poe's shout sounded though the Falcon as the whole ship jolted to one side. In a moment, Ben was up, staggering as the ship jerked sideways again. He impacted against the wall and gritted his teeth not to make a sound. He still had wounds that were only partly healed and the impact hadn't helped. But he managed to make it to the cockpit and hung onto the doorway.

"Tell me what's happening," he said. Rey glanced up and frowned.

"One of the Star Destroyers has some sort of super weapon that just blasted one of the Resistance Cruisers to pieces-despite its shields!" she reported.

"The Inglarit," Poe muttered. "Why is it that they always seem to have some super gun? Do they have a super warehouse somewhere? Is there some super weapon catalogue that no one talks about?" Ben slid into the vacant seat.

"Maybe Hux feels inadequate,' he muttered as everyone briefly turned to stare at him in shock.

"Did-did you just…?" Rey asked, looking at him in shock. Ben shrugged.

"I really don't like him," he said simply and frowned. "It's based on Death Star tech. That's Hux's personal Star Destroyer, the Eliminator. The one he imagined Snoke and I didn't know about." Poe banked them round so the gunners could take out a couple more TIEs as he framed his next question.

"You mean you do know about it?" he checked. Ben nodded and closed his eyes, wracking his brain for intelligence. Snoke had discussed it with him, cruelly mocking the General to his lapdog and apprentice.

"You wonder why I keep a rabid dog like him around?" Snoke said in his smooth, sneering voice. Kylo hadn't answered, knowing anything he said would be wrong. Snoke wanted to demonstrate to one of his pets that nothing escaped his notice, that there was no chance of either of them getting any transgression past him. "Because even a rabid cur can have a use." Kylo had looked up then, unable to hide his disdain.

"And that use?" he breathed without thinking. Snoke chuckled.

"Be careful your rivalry doesn't blind you to who the Master is," he intoned, the edge to his voice chilling. Kylo bowed his head submissively. Hux was not worth enduring any further punishment for.

"No, Master," he said tonelessly.

"Hux forgets I am older and more powerful than he could imagine," Snoke pressed on. "I know of his covert operations. He is diverting materiel and manpower to another Destroyer that he thinks he has concealed from me. It really is amusing that he thinks he can get away with this."

"You suspect his ambition?" Kylo said the last word as if it was foul-tasting. "Treason?"

"It is amusing to see him try so hard," Snoke sneered. "I will allow him rein for now. He seems to be loading his secret ship with every possible technology. Perhaps his dedication will lead him to more innovations." Kylo frowned.

"You don't intend to leave him unmuzzled?" he asked sharply, his eyes betraying his anger and a hint of jealousy. It had been a mistake and his head snapped up, the Force tightening cruelly around his throat. His body was frozen and he struggled fiercely to try to ease the vicious pressure.

"Do not assume I will tolerate insubordination!" Snoke growled, lifting him from the ground. His vision blurred.

"No…Master…" he managed to rasp. Snoke brutally surged Force lightning through him, the energy scourging him viciously. Unable to resist, all he could do was scream until Snoke relented, leaving his shattered mind on the brink of unconsciousness. After another long and sadistic moment, Snoke dropped him in a graceless heap.

"Pryde has infiltrated men into the engineering crews that have inserted override codes into his vessel," Snoke said. "He is unaware-the men were examined when they returned and then executed to maintain secrecy. If Hux thinks ever to use his ship against me, I can turn it off at the simple broadcast of a code. The code also locks him out and erases all but my personal codes from the system." Still heaving for breath, Kylo glanced up and inspected his master, privately resolving to ensure he knew the override code. And ensuring Hux would never find out…

"There's a code that will kill Hux's ship," he said slowly. Poe frowned.

"What?"

"Snoke knew about the ship and had a kill code inserted without Hux's knowledge," he said. "Broadcast it and the ship will be no better than space junk."

"And you know it?" Poe's mouth twitched up in a small smile.

"I know it," Ben said, dragging the memory up. He had dug up the code from Snoke's archives on the Supremacy as soon as he had dismissed Hux from the wrecked Throne Room, knowing from the man's thoughts that he had stood over his helpless, unconscious shape with an armed blaster. That if he had woken a moment later, he wouldn't have lived. So he felt no qualms or guilt in erasing what evidence he could find of his treason and all evidence of the existence of the code after committing it to memory. It existed only in his memory and buried deep in the system of Hux's private Star Destroyer.

Giving a small smile and feeling a distinctly un-Lightside surge of triumph, Ben reached forward, tapped it in and sent the code.

-o0o-

"Cannon charged!"

"Check range!"

"Ready to fire, sir,"

Hux allowed a small smile to tilt his lips.

"Target the largest Resistance vessel-then fire at will!" he commanded superciliously. He smirked. "We'll vaporise the Millennium Falcon next. I can survive not watching Ren tortured and broken over years if I know I've lasted him to atoms." He turned back to the viewing screen and smirked.

"On my mark…F-"

And then the entire bridge went dark.

The ship juddered and the impact of the strafing X- and Y-wings shuddered through the deck.

"What's happening?" Hux demanded, turning to his crew. They were helplessly working at screens that were uniformly dark. There was no sign of a single light anywhere. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

"Sir-the entire system has crashed," Rinder reported, looking up from the weapons system. "Every system has wiped. There is no response-and no way in to reboot. I can dispatch teams to the main computer node but they will have to be staff from here because all coms are dead."

"Is anything working?" Hux asked furiously. Rinder looked around.

"No," he said. "Which includes environmental systems, air recycling, probably reactor containment…" There was a pause.

"Send the team and make it fast," the General snapped. "Troopers-guard the main door to the bridge." Then he turned and clambered down to the lower level. "Break out the emergency personal coms and send a distress call to the Finalizer." Rinder stared at him.

"What are you doing, sir?" he asked. Hux gave him a glare.

"Transferring to the Finalizer," he said bluntly. "I will assume command there so that we can still win the battle." He gestured to a single stormtrooper. "Come with me to the emergency shuttle. The rest of you-stand by your posts and do your duty!" And with that, he vanished through the hatch to the small escape shuttle.

-o0o-

"The Eliminator is completely dead," Rey reported. "She's drifting and taking heavy damage. In fact, she's drifting towards the Finalizer."

"Falcon-this is the Reunity," a voice announced.

"Good to hear you. D'Acy," Poe replied. "All ships to concentrate fire on the one remaining functional vessel…"

"General-I would strongly recommend withdrawing," D'Acy said urgently. "There are indications of reactor containment loss in all areas of the crippled ship."

"Did you know this would happen?" Poe demanded and Ben shrugged.

"No," he said honestly. "Remember, I've never seen any schematics or reports on this vessel since it doesn't technically exist and Snoke never shared what he had actually done to Hux's systems. Not that I could ask…"

"All ships turn and attack the Finalizer but stay away from the other ship!" Poe ordered and swung the Falcon round to join in the assault. Chewie suddenly howled and Ben frowned.

"It's what?" he asked.

"This I gotta see," Poe said as they spun round to see the Finalizer swinging its guns round to bear on the stricken Eliminator. There were a handful of escape pods beginning to burst from the listing ship-and as they watched, there was a small explosion in the starboard engine. Immediately, the Finalizer poured the fire from every gun on the stricken shieldless ship and as they watched, it exploded. Poe flung the Millennium Falcon round to avoid the shock wave, diving behind the Finalizer along with the Resistance ships-but many of the TIE fighters were caught in the open and buffeted mercilessly.

"Maker," Ben murmured and winced, feeling the surge of deaths in the Force. Rey was cringing as well and instinctively, he found her hand, flooding reassurance down the Bond. She nodded and glanced up at him, a small smile on her lips.

"You know, I have a thing about people taking my hand without permission," she murmured but as he made to let go, her hand tightened around his. "In your case, I'm making an exception."

He chuckled.

"Very grateful," he said, giving her hand a little squeeze. Then there was a burst of static over the comm and a familiar voice spoke up.

"This is Captain Edrison Peavey of the First Order ship Finalizer. I wish to negotiate terms for our surrender."