Snoke laughed as Kylo's light saber went through Rey. "Well done," Snoke said pleased. He suddenly tensed up as a red light saber went through his back and out his chest through his heart. Snoke gasped in shock and fell over dead.
Kylo emerged behind Snoke's throne and checked to see that Snoke was truly dead. Rey gave Kylo a stunned look and then looked back to see a projection of Kylo disappear. Kylo and his light saber had been a Force projection since they had entered the throne room. She touched her chest to make sure and found herself perfectly fine.
The Red Guards immediately readied their weapons and surrounded them. "Assist me or we both die," Kylo told her.
Kylo Ren and Rey furiously battled the Red Guards working together to survive their assaults. Each Red Guard had unique weapons from metals that resisted the light saber blade. Forced to cooperate, Jedi and Sith fought together for the first time in thousands of years to defeat a common enemy. One-by-one the guards fell to their blade until only one remained holding his blade close to Kylo Ren's throat.
"Kylo, here!" Rey said as she threw her light saber towards him. He caught it and turned it on into the guards face.
"There's still time. We can save the fleet," Rey said naively pointing to the view screen of the remaining Resistance ships.
Kylo didn't respond still breathing heavily from the physical and emotional trauma of what he had done. He had killed his master, committed treason against the First Order, and defended a Jedi in battle. Looking over the remains of Snoke, Kylo began to realize the gravity of his act.
"Ben?" Rey asked hopefully.
"It's time to let old things die: Snoke, Skywalker, the Sith, the Jedi, the Resistance," he listed off. "Let it all die, Rey. I want you to join me," Kylo offered his hand to her.
"We can rule together. We can bring a new order to the galaxy," Kylo said.
"Don't be this way. Don't go this way," Rey said hurt that she had misinterpreted Kylo's actions. Hope that she could turn him was fading away.
"No, you're still holding on. Let go!" he shouted at her. "You want to know the truth about your parents? Or have you always known? Hidden away, you know the truth. Say it," Kylo said softly.
"They were…nothing," she admitted.
"Your parents were slaves hidden away. You were taken from your parents during the Battle of Jakku when the Empire fell. There was no one left to retrieve you, and you were forgotten. Do you know why you are so special? Why the Force calls to you? Why I have searched for you for so long? Say it, don't be afraid," Kylo encouraged her.
"I am…the child of the…Emperor," she said ashamed and bitter of her heritage.
"There's no shame in this, Rey. Our two families have been intertwined for three generations, both the light and the darkness. The way of the Sith is destructive. I know this now. Our grandfathers destroyed each other in mutual hatred and distrust. The Jedi tried to destroy your grandfather without a trial leading to this very moment," Kylo said.
"Kylo, if you let those transport ships live, I will join you," Rey pledged.
Kylo looked at the view screen conflicted. He wanted Rey's complete cooperation and the Resistance was on the verge of being destroyed. He looked at her and then back at the view screen unable to decide. "Give up your hatred, Kylo," Rey pleaded with him.
"Alright," Kylo whispered stunned by everything that had just developed.
Rey cautiously approached Kylo and placed her hand in his.
Admiral Holdo turned the Republic cruiser towards the First Order armada. "No," the First Order admiral realized what she was trying to do.
"Fire on that cruiser!" Gen. Hux screamed.
The First Order armada fired on the cruiser but the hits were absorbed by the frontal shields. "Spread out the fleet!" Hux barked out as he considered the full ramifications.
First Order ships began to spread out but Holdo was already on the lever that would send her ramming into the Super Star Destroyer at light speed. Kylo Ren and Rey entered the bridge and saw what was happening.
"Why is she here?" Hux asked alarmed.
"They're attempting to ram us, Sir," the admiral informed Kylo Ren.
"In return for letting the ships go, stop this," Kylo turned to Rey. "Think of how many will perish."
Rey eyed Kylo unsure of herself and then closed her eyes in concentration. Using the Force, she entered Admiral Holdo's mind causing her to hesitate for a brief moment. The First Order fired furiously on the cruiser as Admiral Holdo kept her hand on the lever. She stared off in space as if confused as to what she was doing.
The First Order's missiles eventually reached the cruiser blasting it to pieces. Rey opened her eyes and felt the admiral's death in her mind. "I killed her," she said horrified.
"You saved thousands of lives," Kylo told her.
Hux sighed with relief and then eyed Rey angrily. "Arrest her immediately," he ordered.
"She is our guest," Kylo told him calmly.
"Supreme Commander Snoke would never agree to this," Hux replied.
"The Supreme Leader is dead, by my hands," Kylo revealed.
There was a hushed silence on the bridge. "Traitor!" Hux declared.
Kylo raised his hand towards him and started chocking him with the Force. The First Order general fell to his knees and gave Kylo a look of rage and then pathetic sorrow as he died. Kylo turned to a horrified Rey. "A death for a death," he said to her.
Kylo then approached the admiral. "Supreme Leader," he pledged to him.
Leia looked over the salt fields anticipating a First Order strike at any moment. She had just seen her friend and comrade, Admiral Holdo die in vain as First Order ships destroyed their last capital ship. Without help from the Outer Rim allies, there was no hope.
"Close the doors," she ordered.
The giant blast doors came down sealing them inside the mountains. Not even the fire power of the First Order could reach them now.
On the Supremacy, the admiral approached Kylo Ren. "We have intercepted an encrypted message from the planet. They're calling for help," he said referring to the Resistance.
"As long as she keeps fighting, the war will never end," Kylo said to Rey.
"Let me go down to her. I'll convince her," Rey volunteered.
"No, this is something I must do. I am going to trust you with the fleet," he said softly. "Can you trust me?" he asked softly.
"I trust you," Rey said.
Kylo turned to his bridge crew and captain. "This girl is the rightful heir to the First Order. She is the granddaughter of the Emperor. Do as she says."
The admiral took off his hat in respect and knelt before her. The bridge crew followed kneeling towards her and bowing their head.
A First Order shuttle escorted with Tie fighters arrived on the planet and approached the blast doors. The shuttle landed a distance away from the blast doors and opened revealing Kylo Ren. A little unsure of himself, he walked out onto the salt. Crystal foxes ran away from him as if sensing the Dark Side in him.
AT-M6 walkers landed nearby with powerful impacts. A canon was transported to the ground and was aimed at the blast doors. Kylo gave the "halt" sign to the walkers and walked towards the blast doors.
Meanwhile, an assortment of old Republic and alien ships exited hyperspace in front of the First Order armada. Republic fighters came out of the cruisers and hovered ready to attack. Rey saw the fleet appear with wonder.
"My Empress, they are no match against us," the admiral assured her.
"Don't make any provocative moves. Let them make the first move," Rey ordered.
"As you wish, Empress," the admiral replied.
The blast doors opened and Leia stepped out alone. Kylo and Leia met in the middle and saw each other for the first time in years. "Do you speak for Supreme Leader Snoke?" Leia asked bitterly.
"Snoke is dead. I killed him and now I am Supreme Leader," Kylo told her.
"Congratulations on your promotion," Leia said angrily. She looked upon her son with love and hate, hope and fear. She could not help but feel concerned for the scar on his face. Even so, she could only speak to him as a leader, not as a mother.
"Surrender to me. Call off your reinforcements and tell your men to disarm," Kylo said to her.
"Where's Rey?" Leia asked ignoring his offer.
"She is with me, her rightful place," Kylo said vaguely.
Leia could sense that he was not lying but couldn't believe it. "You killed your father and you tried to kill me," Leia said with contempt. Her hands were shaking in grief and anger.
"I killed Luke as well and all of his students. I have participated in the deaths of billions of lives. I know I cannot be saved. The Dark Side is too strong for me to resist," Kylo said honestly.
Leia teared up as she realized Luke was dead as well. "It's never too late," she said to him.
"It is for you," Kylo said bluntly.
"Are you going to kill me, too?" she asked looking at the AT-M6s looking down at her.
"No," he shook her head. "I'm going to take you home where you can live the rest of your days in peace. It's time to stop fighting," Kylo said to her.
"I've never known peace," she mused sadly.
"I know," Kylo replied.
Leia pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Kylo.