Well... here it is. This is the chapter that started this whole thing. I can't even remember at this point what prompted me to write this. I had a lot of fun doing and redoing this chapter as the story evolved. The fight scene was particularly interesting for me. I hope it came across how I intended it to. It was a challenge which I really enjoyed a lot. Anyway, here you are darlings. While this may be the last chapter in this particular story all of my fics unless other wise stated follow along this same time line. I have a number of one shots which I will continue to post so as always thank you for your kind words, let me know what you think, how you feel, all that lovely stuff. You're all amazing xo
Asleep on his meagre bunk Ben was thrust into wakefulness by a surge of fear and a wild screaming down through the force. His body bolted upright without thought as his dark eyes wide and searching took in his surroundings. Still in a cage, still in the dark, floors strewn with dirt and garbage. Ben listened closely, he could hear the slow dripping of water down the hall as voiced carried from the direction of a lit room. Warmth surged from it suggesting it was occupied by more then a handful of people. The jovial tones said he was right and they were playing a game of sabaac. "Hey!," he called out in the darkness, banging his metal cuffs against the bars of his cell, "HEY," he called again but no one answered.
He reached out with the force in search of Rey, he knew she was somewhere in the facility but where? His mind swum through the vibrations of people and creatures alike trying to find that one vibration that hummed a little louder and a little more intently then the rest. When he finally came across it it was paired with another energy signature. Vibrating against Rey's in a grotesque display of heated dominance Ben felt the force signature of a Knight of Ren. The air around him froze as he reached further within himself scaling through the force to uncover the identity of the unknown man. He'd killed them all, had he not? They had fought and fought hard and yet Ben had come out the victor.
Pressing his forehead against the bars he took a deep breath before pulling back and smashing his cuffed wrist against phrik encasement. The vibration sang through his bones in agonizing waves, the sound dancing off the walls in loud rapturous noise. He heard the din of voices drop a level and took that opportunity to draw back and do it again and again. The metal of his cuffs bit into his flesh bitterly and still he struck the phrik bars with a furious tenor. The biting scent of iron and metal hit the air and still Ben kept up his barrage, waiting, preying that one of his captors would emerge. He wanted to do this right, he wanted to prove he could be trusted but with Rey's security hanging in the balance his resolve was quickly waning.
"HEY!" he cried again, and this time his voice was heard. A scruffy looking youth stuck his head out the door several feet away peering down the long corridor. Ben was the only captive they had so what the youth was looking for he wasn't quite sure. "Hey, hey!" he called out again, his voice like that of a drowning man desperate for aid.
The youth emerged from the room slowly, signalling over his shoulder as he did so. He looked to be about nineteen years old, his facial hair growing in in patches. His rounded cheeks were flush with drink which crept up onto the bridge of pointed and angular nose. He was wearing the brilliant orange of an x wing pilot with the jump suit undone to his middle and the arms tied around his waist. His bare arms were lean and muscular as they slid across his broad chest, clad in a simple black sleeveless shirt, "What is it?" his voice called with a creak and forced bravado.
Ben, trying to play his cards right on this one mulled over his options. Force persuasion would be most efficient but would mar his chances of proving himself to the resistance. Still, he needed to get to Rey. The dark vibrations of a shadow wielder was looming ever closer. He couldn't tell where exactly or who exactly but they were here and their existence reached out to him now. His head jerked up as he followed the line of force energy, it moved slowly on thunderous vibrations down one hall way then the next in search of something. It wanted him to know it was hunting. It wanted him to know he was helpless to stop it. "I… I need," he fumbled over his words, "Where's Rey?" he asked instead.
The pilot scrunched his nose, caught off guard. He took a few sure steps forward and Ben could see in the boys hand a cup. He held the object in tight fingers letting it hang at his side. He seemed to slip into a state of curious ease as he approached. Shaggy hair fell into his eyes but Ben could see they were the red rimmed sort of a man who had been dabbling with spice. The sides of the boys head were shaved leaving the shaggy sandy brown mop to fall across his forehead as he swept at it a few times. "You mean lady Skywalker?"
It was Ben's turn to be taken off guard, how long had he been unconscious for? "Rey, the Jedi girl who took me here?" he asked carefully. One part of his consciousness was trained on the dark shadow which wove through the hallways while the other tried to process the information he was being given.
With a nod of his head the pilot looked a little more confident now, "Yeah," he said taking a swig from his cup, "Rey Skywalker, that's what she said her name was. Like that famous Jedi…"
My uncle, Ben thought but pressed on, "Where is she?"
" 'Ow should I know," the boy said belligerently now, "She's usually with the Generals, sometimes that Wookie, but most nights she's in her own in her quarters. We don't see her much."
"She hasn't been down to see me?" Ben asked but immediately regretted it. The young man was staring at him through dangerously narrowed eyes.
"And why would she do that?" he asked, tone thick with disgust, "And what did you do to your wrists?" his eyes falling to Ben's bloodied hands he shifted a step back looking over his shoulder.
Ben acted fast, raising his cuffed arms he wove a hand through the air and reached out to the lad through the force. His mind was addled with substance and fear making him all the more easy to influence, "You will remove my restraints," he said in an even tone. The boys demeanour shifted quickly, tension zapped from his shoulders as he smiled dopy and eager to please.
"Sure," he said sweetly, "I'll remove your restraints," his footsteps carried him clumsily towards the bars. Ben held his hands up so that they poked through stopped by the metal of his intrusive cuffs. The boy before him, dropping his cup to the ground unceremoniously and unlocked the metal bands with deft fingers. He then stepped back to admire his handy work
The cold air stung viciously but Ben pushed away the biting sensation with a scowl and nodded his thanks, "You will unlock my cell," he said with another gentle wave of his hand. This time the young man looked uneasy.
"I can't unlock your cell," he said in a dreamy far off tone.
Ben cursed beneath his breath, he had to get out of these Force forsaken bars and fast. Quickly his mind wheeled, he ran through scenario after scenario desperate for an answer. There was a keycard needed to unlock the door, which operated on an electronic mechanism. If the power went down however there was a backup lock which clicked into place that had to be manually opened with a key. That was his ticket he just needed something sharp.
"You will bring me," he hesitated, what would be most useful in this situation, how could he best describe what it was he needed? "You will bring me anything long, thin and narrow," he said firmly, "Something to pick a lock with," he added, suddenly feeling very uneasy about this loosely formed plan of his.
As the young pilot set to work Ben turned his attention to the other problem at hand, short circuiting the main mechanism. He looked around for a power source, maybe he could throw something at it? No, too much noise. He could try force lightening but that was unpredictable at best and could have devastating repercussions. He wasn't entirely sure he had the energy required to control such a feat. Maybe if he could find a conductor of some kind he could overload the power signature.
The pilot, returning within moments with two straight metal pieces of wiring looked proud of himself as he offered the pieces to Ben. "I have brought you two narrow pieces of wire," he said smoothly, standing back as if awaiting his next order.
"Thank you," Ben said quietly, when suddenly it struck him. Waving another hand in front of the boys face he said with serene calmness, "You will bring me something to drink,"
With a dumb smile and a curt nod the pilot turned on booted heels and moved back towards the room he had exited earlier muttering to himself, "I will bring you something to drink."
Ben watched as the young man disappeared into the well lit room only to be met with jeering cries and whoops. His presence had clearly been missed, or maybe it was his pocket book. As he waited Ben reached out once more through the force, like a blind man clawing through the darkness it was suddenly thick and heavy around him. He pushed further, harder as though pulling himself out from dark and mirky waters. The shadowed force signature rippled as it's heart beat increased. The thrill of the hunt wandered around it's twisted form as Ben felt it slow its pace. It knew it was growing closer to it's prey and was savouring the heat of it. Reaching further he sought Rey's humming light, he closed his eyes and physically reached out his hand drawing himself closer and closer to it. He could feel her heart beat, even and steady as her dreams wafted around her sleeping mind. She was still, calm and for the time being safe. Allowing himself to breach the gap between them Ben felt his surroundings shift, his cage became a barracks, no not barracks but a room. It was dimly lit by the singular moon hanging in the sky over head. Rey was sleeping beneath a large spread of plush blankets with the window wide open allowing a cool breeze to waft through. Ben approached cautiously, catching a glimpse of the city below. Hanna city was no different from how he remembered from far years gone by. They must be staying in the Chandrila Senate House, it was the only building in the city which boasted such fine accommodations with a cell block in the basement. Below he could see the Eleutherian Plaza, it's large fountain spilling water idly into the air in graceful arcs.
As he looked back, eyes cast on Rey's sleeping form he watched as her brow knit, her skin a sheen of light perspiration. Something within her shifted, her breathing was coming in quick puffs of air as her hands balled themselves around her sheets and they were both plunged into darkness. "You weren't invited," bit out a cold metallic voice as Ben turned to see the hulking black form of a man slipping in on silent foot steps. His leather coat was ripped in places but still mostly intact save for the gaping hole left in it's right flank. The animal flesh was burnt in that area, as though pierced by a lightsaber. He walked with a slight limp still, favouring his left where he guarded a familiar blaster pistol. The mask he wore a hulking piece of black pastillion ore with a small vision gap and grate of intimidating silver providing extra protection to his nose, mouth, and neck. It looked a little like a grenade, the moonlight causing it to glint viciously.
"Vicrul," Ben growled. Of course it would be Vicrul to survive. He was the most wildly unpredictable of the lot, prone to obscene fits of rage and sadistic tendencies. This was the thick shadow Ben had felt, this dark need to consume the light.
"Master Ren…" he drawled sardonically in response, "but, no…you aren't really here are you?" his footing shifted as he wandered in a loose half circle around Ben's form before turning his attention back upon Rey. "No… a force projection? or…" his tone softened in mock kindness, "A connection with the girl young Jedi,"
Ben could feel as Vicrul reached his shadows out towards Rey. They slipped over her sleeping form in curled talons dragging her light and joy into the darkness. Her body stiffened with a shiver as the last of the knights of Ren forced his fear manipulation through her drawing up old wounds and deep terrors from the core of her very soul. She whimpered in her sleep and Ben felt his blood run cold, he moved to lunge at Vicrul but the metal clad man threw an arm out and force pushed Ben out of the room with more strength then Ben though he should rightfully have. His back struck the wall of his cell and he scrambled desperately to his feet. He had to do something and quick.
"HEY!" he started calling again, his force rendered puppet was a useless mind of drink and frivolity. He had forgotten the minute he walked back into the room what exactly it was he was suppose to do. Fists raged against the phrik bars as the force surged and whipped around him. His bed began shaking against the floor, it's loosened bolts rattling beneath the torrent of Ben's force rage. He needed to get control but his thin grip on the concept was slipping away from him. His light was suffocating beneath the rampaging darkness he had worked so desperately to control. The air around him crackled and snapped with unbridled terror and strain as Ben threw all he could focus bucking against the lock. A wave of force energy crashed like a tsunami against it and to Ben's good fortune the box sparked and died. It's lights blinked a few times and the lock released only to be replaced by the manual lock. The manual lock Ben knew how to handle.
Quickly he dropped to his knees and forced his arms through the bars. Sparing no time, he drove the hard metal wires into the locking mechanism and listened. Rolling the pieces over in small tight circles he fumbled around until he met the right resistance. Carefully he slipped the other wire beneath it and torqued repeating the process a series of times before a quick pop and the door slid open.
Without conscious thought for himself Ben took off running. He passed the room with its drunken occupants who came to the door, hollering after him. No one it seemed was brave enough to follow. Instead he heard the beeping of com-links and radio silence. Still his feet carried him through dark tunnels and up winding stairways. He had a loose idea of the senate houses geography but it wasn't clear enough to get him exactly where he needed to go. Reaching out through the force he groped along the hallways ahead, searching for the right direction. As he slid around one corner he was met by a pair of resistance fighters dressed in their civilian clothing. At their hips they carried blaster pistols which they began reaching for the minute their eyes met Ben's.
"Wait! Stop!" one cried as the other groped for his com, "Kylo Ren, we command you stop at once."
"Command, we have a situation," the soldier with the com spoke quickly into his piece, the other levelled his blaster on Ben with a shaky hand. "Kylo Ren has escaped, we're in the south hall down from the interim chambers," a warbling came over the com link which Ben couldn't make out, "No sir, he's unarmed. He looks to be injured."
"Don't call me Kylo Ren," Ben barked, both soldiers flinched, neither seemed to know what it was they were suppose to do.
"General Dameron Sir," the soldier with the com link muttered into the device.
'Ah, Joy,' Ben thought, the General was far from Ben's biggest fan. He knew the only reason Poe hadn't acted on his desire for direct termination was for Rey's benefit. That was the reason they'd brought him here to Chandrila under the guise of some sort of fair trial. "I'm so sorry," he muttered loud enough for them to hear. Both looked wide eyed as Ben threw his hand out in their direction and with a mass of will and intent flung them down the hallway and out of his path. He listened to their grunting as they clambered to their feet but Ben was already gone. He had a better idea of where he was now in relation to the bedchambers senators often stayed in while visiting. That would be where he would find Rey. His feet tore across the marbled floors, panic licking at his heart as he reached out to her through the force. He caught her heavy breathing and terror like a wave of nausea but she was still alive. Vicrul's penchant for torture was legendary but it may in fact be saving Rey's life. She was still asleep, though plagued with horrors beyond imagine. He had to get to her, he had to save her. She was the only thing tethering him to this world so filled with contempt and hatred towards him. She was the only reason he hadn't slipped away to become one with the force when he had heard his mothers call. Rey was his reason for everything. Their connection was the one thing in the world he held most dear and he simply couldn't lose that.
He could feel her fear mounting as he drew closer, just one floor up and he would be within reach. One floor up and he could save her.
"Kylo Ren," the voice came, solid and stern as Ben stopped on the stairs he had been taking two at a time. His long legs giving him the advantage.
He didn't bother to turn he knew who it was standing behind him. He could feel the the vibration of Poe's energy through the force like a blunt instrument. The blaster pistol held in his hand a similar make to the one his father, Han Solo had favored. Ben knew the sound of the safety like he knew the sound of his mothers voice. The memory of a sound that would never leave him. It was the first weapon he ever learned to fire, ironic now that it was poised to end him.
"Don't do this Dameron," Ben bit out, if his back was turned Poe wouldn't fire but he lifted his hands in mock surrender all the same. If nothing else it showed the General Ben wasn't armed, nor did he have intention to harm.
Poe let out a steady breath of air, the sound buffeted against his teeth. He held his pistol with the careful ease of a pro. If only he knew how much he looked like the great General Solo in this moment. He wore tan pants cad in leather straps which held an assortment of weapons to his hips and legs, the pistol holder empty at that moment. His white shirt was tucked in loosely at his waist, unbuttoned at the collar similar to the way Ben's Dad often did. "General Dameron thank you," Poe called in a tone resembling bravado but Ben didn't miss the slight waver as his voice dropped off. "Don't know what you think you're doing but I think you and I both know it's not wise."
Ben's foot slid against the stair as he cocked his body to the side careful that he was still showing Poe the majority of his back. Over his shoulder he cast the young General with a pleading gaze, licking at chapped lips as he mulled over his words carefully. "Rey's in danger,"
The words hit their mark, Poe's hand lowered his gun a fraction of an inch. It wasn't much but it was something. He seemed to think a moment before reinforcing the weapon in Ben's direction but the hesitance was still there, "She went to bed hours ago," Poe tried, his words coming softer then maybe he meant them to.
Ben nodded, "She's not alone, there's someone in the room with her. I can… feel it," he bit out by way of explanation.
Poe made a face that looked half mocking yet half exasperated, "If the lady Rey wants to bring someone else to her bed it's no concern of yours Ren,"
Scowling he snarled, "Ben," not the wisest of responses with a gun trained on your back but he was getting tired of hearing the misnomer. Sure he had given it to himself but now it stood as a reminder of all the atrocities he had committed while under the influence and struggling against the dark. Deep down he knew he deserved Poe's animosity but his heart still yearned for acceptance as much from himself he realized as anyone else. "I go by Ben now, please you have to understand,"
"Oh, I understand jealousy well Ren," Poe spoke the name with clear inflection, needling to get under Ben's skin, "She saved you, you feel some strange connection to her, which you have her convinced is mutual…"
Frustrated Ben turned, his hands still held against the air he faced Poe. Force be damned this was taking too long. Either Poe would shoot him or he wouldn't. If the General truly believed the words he was saying he would have opened fire now and been done with Ben Solo. He would have freed his friend from the dreaded scourge of the galaxy Kylo Ren and let her get on with her life. Yet, his finger lingered a little too far away from the trigger to be sure of his shot. Poe knew in his heart that firing on Ben would be a mistake, politically as well as mentally. "Rey is free to do whatever she wants, I won't stand in the way of her happiness, trust me," Poe scoffed, "There is a man in her room right now who intends to do her harm and the more you stand here barking your foolishness the more likely it is that he's going to take her life."
"How…" Poe started but Ben cut him off.
"The FORCE," he roared through clenched teeth. Without intending, his rage and fear sent a rippling through the force which buffeted against the dark shadows which surrounded Rey's room, "Kriff," Ben cursed realizing what exactly he had just done. His very existence had just pressed against Vicrul's webbed darkness surely alerting the Knight of Ben's current location. "Look," Ben offered hastily, "You believe in the force?" Poe nodded, "You knew my mother was strong with it, my uncle?" Poe continued nodding, Ben's patience was wearing thin, "Why is it so hard to believe then that I can feel another force wielder through the force? Why then can't you believe that Rey and I have a connection that you can't see or touch. We're a dyad in the force," he pleaded now, desperate for Poe to understand.
While Poe mulled over the information presented to him Ben reached out again, feelers dipping around the edges of the pulsating shadow which was swallowing Rey's room. If he knew Vicrul the way he thought he did the man wouldn't simply end her, that would be too easy. He would need to feel her fear flicker through the force before it ended. Desperate and in two places Ben watched Poe before closing his eyes and sending a surge of his own Force signature through his bond with Rey. It was a last ditch attempt but maybe if she could wake up she could hold Vicrul off. Or, maybe he would be forced to kill her before his timed intent. Ben couldn't take the chance, "Watcha doin' there Ren?" he heard Poe ask, voice strained against vexation.
'Wake up,' he pleaded, pouring himself into it, 'Wake up and FIGHT' he cried along the tether that bound them together. He needed to give her a chance.
A sudden shrill scream met by heavy hammering bangs erupted from over head. Ben pushed through the force throwing Poe back a bit as he turned to sprint up the stairs. Poe's finger, be it by accident or on purpose found the trigger and the blaster pistol went off. It's bolt shot passed Ben's head and found its mark in the old stone wall of the landing. It left a smoking hole which Ben bolted passed as he ran up the stairs. Behind him he could hear Poe gathering himself. There was the beeping of com's and Poe was muttering something but Ben didn't care, he had to get to Rey.
As he came upon her floor other resistance officers of varying ranks were now taking to the hallways. Unarmed, Ben noticed gratefully, they milled about before taking notice of his hulking form barreling down the hall. Panic erupted, chaos ensued and soon the floor was flooded with soldiers weapons in hand all pointed at Ben. His wrists ached as he stopped, the blood had left dark black marks against the sleeves of his black tunic which he found himself focusing on. His stance was wide, boots shifting against the floor more then a shoulders width apart as he opened himself upon the hallway. His force energy bucked and raged, pushing the soldiers back, throwing their weapons from their hands. He was careful not to hurt anyone but the mounting ire within him made his movements unpredictable and jarring. With a look of apology mixed with reverence he turned himself upon Rey's door and thrust the heavy wood back and off its hinges.
Inside the room Rey stood with her back against the wall, her small form dwarfed by Vicrul's mass. He loomed over her like a child's bed-night monster. A waking terror that had walked directly out of a nightmare. In her hand she held a lightsaber, it's blue blade lighting the room around her in it's ethereal glow. She stood poised in stance for a fight but lacked the room necessary for a proper defence. Vicrul held his scythe lazily over his shoulder as if waiting for her to make the first move but when he spoke his words were directed at Ben. "Look who decided to join the party," he drawled, his speech coming out in a distorted tremor. The mask's voice modulator must have been damaged in their fight because the Knight began lazily striking the side of his head in frustration.
"Your fight is with me Vicrul," Ben bit out, trying to draw his attention away from Rey.
Vicrul laughed, a strange hallow metallic sound like a tin can thrown down a hallway, "The way I see it my fight is with both of you. The last pair of Jedi in the galaxy,"
"I'm not…" Ben started to say as he slipped into the room, pacing behind his opponent furthering his attempt to get Vicrul to turn to him and away from Rey.
Instead the hulking juggernaut placed his back to the wall and shifted his scythe in the girls direction, "No, You're not, are you Jedi killer?" Ben flinched. "You'll never escape your past Ben Solo, you think you can drop the name of Ren and live a civilian life? You think your comrades will forgive you for the darkness and despair you have wrought the galaxy? You were born from darkness and you will die in darkness,"
Ben could feel Rey's resolve flicker through the force on waves of anger and contempt. In a moment of panic he wondered if those feelings were directed towards him, he wouldn't blame her if they were. She was edging forward, her bare foot sliding against the ground reading for an attack. In a split second movement she surged forward. Her lightsaber came crashing down on Vicrul's extended scythe. It's phrik blade sparked beneath the weight of her swing but was brought up in an arc to meet the vibrating blue. He was ready for her, Ben realized grimly, watching as the Knight advanced upon Rey like a railspeeder. He reached out through the force finding Vicrul's force signature and pulled. The black knight reacted quickly, pulling his blaster pistol and firing in Ben's direction before his body was torn off it's feet.
Unprepared for the attack Ben felt the blast strike him in the shoulder, knocking him off balance. He stumbled groping at the seared flesh torn beneath tattered fabric. Rey screamed his name and Vicrul was back to his feet before either of them were prepared. Ben's shoulder hit the wall as he steadied his footing. He was spreading himself too thin, pushing himself through the force with no regard for his own existence. Steadying his resolve he drew himself up and threw himself forward. His injured shoulder ached as it collided with hard leather and metal knocking the dark knight back a few paces. Rey took the opportunity to duck and roll across the bed out of their way but not before tossing her lightsaber to Ben. The blade dimmed as it sailed threw the air but once in Ben's hand it roared to life with blazing heat and ferocity.
Ben spun the hilt so that he held the sabre in the non conventional reverse grip. Its bright blue blade danced behind him as he swung it at Vicrul, his body moving in unison. He spun and the blade came crashing down against the mans hardened armour. Using the strike as a distraction Ben swung a swift kick at his opponents other hand. The one he held his pistol tightly in. It was a gambit, that left him more open for attack then he may have liked but thrown off, the pistol cascaded to the floor.
Vicrul growled as Ben backed up, swinging the lightsaber in methodical arcs between them. The aggressive titan of a man moved to attack but was struck in the side of the head by a bolt fired from a blaster. He fumbled numbly a moment before shaking his head, turning his attention in the direction of the assault.
Poe stood in the doorway, pistol raised at the ready poised for another shot. Vicrul's mask made a distorted hissing sound, like bolts shaken too hard inside a can. Frustrated he struck the side of his mask again then seemed resigned to just take the damn thing off. His gloved fingers slipped beneath the leather that wound around the helmet as he unhinged the masks mechanism and the heavy piece fell to the floor.
Beneath it was a man Ben barely knew any longer. His dark red hair fell in a matted mess around his face and down over his shoulders. His dark rimmed eyes were an eery blue, one of which puckered slightly at the corner in a mottled mess of scar tissue. The offending tear ran down his cheek in jagged harsh lines of once torn flesh knit together in roughened pulled lines. It raised in some areas while others blanched white, flesh stretched too thin. It pulled at his mouth giving him a permanent sneer on what was once an attractive face. His other cheek was marred with scratches which disappeared beneath his hair down and along his neck which he kept covered with a thick woven high collar. "Send them away Ren," his voice was a harsh whisper straining against a damaged voice box. He tapped idly at the line of grenades he wore across his chest, "We do this or we all go,"
Ben looked at Rey and then back to Poe. Poe wasn't taking his eyes off of the intruder, nor did he really seem up for dropping his weapon. "General," Ben's voice called, clipped and to the point. Poe flinched as Rey drifted to his side placing her hand on Poe's arm. Ben couldn't hear the conversation but whatever was said had convinced Poe to lower his blaster and back out of the room, Rey at his heels. She seemed to understand what was happening, standing in the doorway in front of Poe.
"I'm not leaving him," she called in loud defiance.
Vicrul didn't seem to care, he threw his hand out as if to push her with the force but instead the wooden door threw itself against the wall. His control over the force was always tenuous at best but the sound made Poe jump. Rey however folded her arms across her chest and watched. "Suit yourself little Jedi," he growled before throwing himself into his assault. His hair flung back behind his shoulder the hulking man brought his scythe down onto of Ben's lightsaber pushing the blade into the floor. It cracked and whizzed beneath the onslaught, chipping away at the marbled surface before Ben was able to shift his footing and angle the blade back against the attack. The phrik blade was drawn back quickly only to be brought in a sweeping arc from the side. Prepared this time, Ben brought his sabre up on an angle, both hands on its hilt as he parried the blow. Over and over Vicrul came at him, blades angled in crashing arcs bounced off one another repeatedly. The dark knight was careful not to let his blade sit against the lightsaber too long. The crackling energy it emitted would tear his weapon in two if it was allowed to hold position too long
They had sparred often in training so both men knew the others tactics and body language. When Ben's feet shifted Vicrul pushed forward to be met with an upswept blade and a twisting body. Ben's movements were fast without his armour, he was careful to dodge the scythes vibro tech blade but more then that he fought to end this. He felt Rey reaching out to him through the force, a little extra strength to his swing. A resolve like steel to win at all costs. Her force energy licked along his anger and rage winding into it with light and determination.
He fought like a banshee unhinged, feeling his tempo increase with every crash of plasma on phrik. Where Vicrul's foot faltered, Ben pressed forward. Where his breathing hitched Ben threw the force at him, knocking his opponent back towards the window and the terrace beyond. Gaining the advantage Ben's parries became more frenzied, his artistic fighting style slipped into something a little more dangerous. As he came at Vicrul catching him across the chest with his forearm Ben used the force to throw him through the window. The glass broke, shattering around the dark knights hulking form. Ben's footfalls treading on the broken shards crunched as he climbed out the window to find Vicrul struggling against the stone railing.
"YIELD," Ben bellowed only to be met by sluggish and heavy swings of the scythe wielded by his opponent. He could feel as Rey came to the window, her small hands holding against the frame as she watched. Poe's presence flickered through the force as he met her back.
Crash for crash Ben continued to wear the scythe wielder out, backing up every now and again to push the weight of his force energy down upon the red head. "Never." he cried softly, knees pressed against the stony terrace. He looked up at Ben only to swing his blade up connecting with Ben's sabre before reaching out through the force and grabbing Ben by the throat. The action threw Ben off guard as he tried desperately to swallow, fighting off a grip that could not be seen only felt. He pushed himself through the force desperately, knocking Vicrul back once more. But, the attack had thrown off Ben's equilibrium and before he knew what was happening his world was turned to darkness. His senses attacked by the blackness of Vicrul's power Ben staggered against an onslaught of images, Snoke, Vader, Palpatine. The whispers and voices of his dark masters crawling through him along the force. They taunted him, calling to him from the pit of blackness that he fought so hard to hide within himself.
"You will draw your blade," the voice of Snoke called like an echo. Ben knew rationally it wasn't real but in his minds eye he saw him drawn his blade. He was standing over the crumpled form of a female. A female he quickly recognize to be Rey.
"You will strike her down," Palpatine croaked viciously.
He heard Rey scream and the blade was ripped from his hands. He wasn't sure what was happening, the darkness around him began to swallow him whole, "Fear, Anger, Hate…" a mechanized voice called and he was falling.
Ben felt his body crash into the cold stone of the terrace. The world around him awash with moonlight he shook his head and looked up. Rey had stabbed her lightsaber through Vicral's shoulder but the larger man was holding her by the throat. As Ben realized what was happening, Rey dropped her hold on the lightsaber and began clawing at the knights amor clad arm. She was being pushed back against the wall kicking and screaming as they went. Poe was knocked back against the bed his head was bleeding but from what Ben could tell he was still alive. Good.
Calling to the sabre, the metal met his hand and ignited. The sound drew Vicrul's attention but too late as Ben drove the blade into the mans back and drug it down across his torso. He cried out as he released Rey, letting her drop unceremoniously to the ground before dropping to his knees. "Jedi Killer…" he all but whispered as Ben reared the blade back and drove it through the man from shoulder straight through to his chest effectively stopping his heart.
"No more…" Ben muttered before he dropped the lightsaber and rushed to Rey's side. He bent low and picked her up with unprecedented ease. Cradling her body against his own he stood, one arm braced against her shoulders, the other supporting her knees and pressed his nose against the side of her cheek. He was sweaty and smelt of blood and battle but she didn't seem to care. She merely clung to him all the harder. He hissed at the pressure of her body against his bolt wound but refused to let her go. "Star's end," he murmured against her hair, "I'm so glad you're ok."
Rey grinned and kissed his cheek and then the side of his mouth before capturing his full lips with her own. "You saved my life again," she said, as they broke away though it sounded strained.
"Always," he muttered in response.
They were soon all too aware that they were no longer alone. Resistance fighters split into Rey's room stepping out onto the terrace. Poe, a groggy face behind them rubbed at the base of his skull. The soldiers took in the image around them Ben cradling Rey tight against his body her feet bloody and speckled with shards of glass while a very dead Knight of Ren lie just feet away. The glass crunched under their feet as they approached, a few drew tentative pistols pointing them at Ben's back.
"Kylo Ren…" one called, Ben tensed but it was Rey who replied.
"His name is Ben," she bit out, Ben turned so that they faced the soldiers head on.
"The prisoner escaped Rey, er, Lady Skywalker, ma'am." A young man with a blaster pistol said hesitantly.
Ben smiled, a soft snicker fluttering passed his lips as Rey looked mildly embarrassed. "Ben," Rey pressed, "Just saved my life, right General Dameron?"
Poe looked up confusion etched across his features. He clearly wasn't prepared to be spoken to so quickly and so instead simply nodded in agreement and ushered the soldiers away with the flick of his hand. "Send someone up for the body," he called out hastily as the last of the soldiers filtered from the room.
As they made their way back through the window Ben sat Rey gingerly down upon her bed. Poe joined cautiously but the aching in his skull seemed to knock the desire for a fight clear out of him. Acting quickly Ben lowered himself to the floor and began carefully removing the shards of glass from bottoms of Rey's feet. He pushed on the flesh with his hand while pulling at the offending jagged pieces through the force. Rey held her hand out and he found himself placing them there for lack of anywhere else. When he was finished, Poe watching with rapt fascination, Ben wrapped his large hands around Rey's feet one at a time and focused his force energy into the wounds. When he was done, the flesh was left unmarred and Rey was able to stand which she did happily.
Broken glass discarded, her fingers drug through Ben's thick and unkempt locks dragging the dirty strands back and out of his eyes. She repeated the motion again and again with both hands until her fingers could move through without snagging on tangles. "When was the last time you were allowed to bathe?" she asked as Ben wound his arms around her waist and rest his head against her middle.
When he didn't answer, Rey turned her attention upon Poe, "Hey, I'm pretty sure I have a concussion, either that or you're listening to some very strange music…" he said a little louder then necessary.
"That doesn't excuse his treatment," Rey said sourly, careful not to holler at her afflicted friend. "He's not going back down there…"
Poe seemed to want to argue, his lips moved but no sound came out. He looked like a stunned Gungan, wide eyed and floundering. "No," Rey began, "No, we're not continuing like this. I know he's done things but you've done things,"
Poe gave an exaggerated eye roll as he fell back, shifting so that he held himself up by his wrists, "Spice running is a little different…" he started but Rey effectively cut him off with a glare.
"We've all done things," she levelled pulling Ben up to his feet. He towered over her, a dark hulking shadow standing in the wake of her bright light. He watched as she interlaced their fingers, the heat of her own hand warm against his palm. His fingers dwarfed hers but they felt incredibly right woven together. "The trail may be a formality but I want it known that Ben is to be cleared. We're starting over, all of us." there was a pause before she added softly, "I need him,"
Ben tried to look nonchalant but his heart skipped a beat as her fingers squeezed against his own. Rey quickly looked embarrassed hastily saying, "For the Jedi," but Ben knew in that moment it was for Poe's benefit. He could feel as she reached out to him through the force winding herself around him in a protective cocoon of light and warmth. He brought her hand to his lips in a smooth motion, placing a soft kiss against her knuckle in way of reply. A gentle admission from deep within his heart, he needed her too.