***Author's Note***

Hello, hello! This is my first-ever fanfic, so I hope you're enjoying it so far. I've never published on here before, so it took me a little while to figure out how to add an author's note! hahaha. Anywho, I hope you're liking the story; if you have any constructive criticism, I'd be more than happy to hear it. Well, enjoy!

Rey had stopped so suddenly that Poe and Finn nearly ran into her. "What's wrong?" asked Finn.

"He's here," Rey said quietly. "Run, you two. Run! Get out of here! Go!" Rey glanced quickly around for Luke, and found him standing between a group of Resistance Fighters and a contingent of Stormptroopers, using his light-saber to deflect blaster fire so the Resistance could get to their shuttles. Rey knew Luke would not reach her in time. Kylo Ren and his Knights approached her in a wedge formation, all of them activating their light-sabers simultaneously. Rey, standing alone, lit her saber-staff and twirled it defiantly, while keeping her eyes locked on Kylo Ren.

The Knights moved as one toward Rey, as the edges of the wedge moved outwards to surround Rey. As one, they sprung at Rey, hacking and slashing, each getting their turn to cross blades with Rey, but none getting in the others' way. In a small corner of her mind, Rey had to admire the liquidity of their movement. She was constantly on the defensive, and soon realized that her saber skills were not up to scratch when compared to the deadly knights. The most deadly of these was Kylo Ren; it was immediately apparent, and it was terrifying.

Though Rey was outnumbered seven-to-one, she somehow managed to fend off the attacks. With every blocked blow, Kylo Ren grew more and more frustrated, until Rey could feel his fury rolling off of him in waves. Overhead, Rey heard a smaller shuttle come in to land. Around her, Kylo Ren and his Knights suddenly froze, unable to move. Rey paused, confused. As one, Kylo Ren and his Knights turned toward the new shuttle and knelt to the ground. Kylo Ren was the only one who seemed allowed to speak.

"Master Ren," he said, with a slight tremor in his voice. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

The mysterious Master Ren came fully into Rey's view. He was massive. Easily as tall as Kylo Ren, but somehow, he seemed to fill the hangar, though he was only one man. A great and terrible power surged from him, shaking Rey to her core. How could one fight such power? Rey felt her hands begin to shake. Finally, Ren spoke; his voice was impossibly deep, but whether that was an affectation of the helmet he wore, or his real voice, Rey could not tell. "I hope you were not planning to kill the girl without an audience, Kylo Ren. I wanted to ensure that you would succeed this time."

"Of course, Master," Kylo Ren responded.

With no warning, Ren raised his hand and sent Kylo Ren flying across the hangar. He landed hard, and did not get up."Are you questioning my orders?" Ren seemed to glide over to Kylo Ren; he stared down at the Knight, lying on the ground, and kicked him, hard, in the ribs. Rey heard at least one crack; she felt Kylo Ren's pain through the force. "Forgive me, Master. I...will not question you again," Kylo Ren stuttered.

"Kill the girl. Do not fail me again."

Kylo definitely hesitated this time, "Yes...Master." Kylo stood and turned toward Rey again. He spun his saber, and Rey instinctively mirrored his stance. Kylo seemed eager before his Master stepped in, but now...he was more hesitant; like he was afraid to hurt Rey. Yes, she definitely sensed hesitation coming from him. And yet, his attacks grew with ferocity and speed. It seemed that his fear of his Master overpowered whatever curiosity he felt towards her.

"Stop," came Luke's calm voice from the sidelines. A small-level Force blast shoved Rey and Kylo apart. "So. This is the mysterious Master Ren that I have heard so many rumors about. It is good to finally meet you." Master Luke raised his eyebrow sardonically, and bowed in Ren's direction.

Ren stiffened; "It seems that you know too much already." Ren looked between Kylo, Rey, and Luke; "It seems that I will not have the pleasure of watching the scavenger die after all. Kill her, Kylo Ren. Or do not bother to return, for it will mean your demise." With that, Ren turned on his heel and boarded his shuttle.

"Well. That was...brief," Luke said sarcastically. "It would seem you and I have old business to finish, my old Padawan." Luke pushed his thoughts towards Rey, Run, Rey, RUN!

Rey turned on her heel and ran out of the hangar, heading for the dense rain forest that surrounded the base. "After her! The girl is mine!" Kylo Ren screamed at his Knights. Without hesitation, they streamed out of the hangar after her.

"It doesn't have to be like this, Ben. You could come home. Your mother misses you."

Kylo sneered at his once-beloved Uncle. "It's too late for that now. And you know it."

"If that is the way you want it to be, Ben." Replied Luke.

"That is the way it must be," countered Kylo Ren, as he lit his light-saber.

Kylo sprung at Luke with a scream of feral rage. As Kylo's saber came down, sparking fitfully, Luke calmly brought his saber up to block. Kylo growled and swung again, this time from the side. Again, his Uncle calmly blocked him. Time and time again, Kylo swung and met resistance. Finally, Kylo feinted a vicious downward slash, knowing Luke would easily counter, and brought his left hand up to aim a powerful Force Push at Luke's gut. Predictable, as ever, Padawan, Luke thought sadly, as he bought his own left hand up to counter the Force Push with a stronger one of his own. Kylo shouted out in surprised and dismay as he felt himself launched into the air and thrown backwards into a wall, where he slumped, unconscious.

Luke stood gazing at his nephew for a long moment, and then returned to the Falcon, shaking his head sadly. He knew Rey would need him. But first, he had matters to attend to; someone needed to contact Leia and make sure she knew all was well; not to mention take control of what troops had survived, and take stock of what resources they did have remaining. Hold our for a few hours, Rey. I'll come find you, I promise.

Poe and Finn, Rey's dearest friends, came running up to Luke, each demanding information about her. Luke held up his hands to forestall the cacophony; "She will be fine. She can handle herself for a few hours." Poe and Finn were outraged at Luke's calm demeanor, and assertion that Rey would be fine, but Luke would not be swayed. "Trust me," was all he would say on the matter. Sensing defeat, they wished their friend the best and took off in the Falcon to regroup with the other Resistance Fighters on the other side of Yavin 4, where a second, smaller, and more secret base had been set up to divert the attention of the First Order. Please, take care of yourself, Rey. It may well be a long night.

Rey stumbled as her foot caught in an overgrown root. She couldn't afford to fall; not when she could hear the heavy boots of the Knights of Ren just behind her. She got up, wincing as she forced her poor, aching limbs to keep moving as fast as she could. Blood streamed down her arms and legs from wounds she had acquired during her previous fight with these unsavory characters. There is no pain, there is only serenity. There is no emotion, there is only peace. Time and again she recited the mantra and used the Force to cleanse her body of pain, but it was no use. Rey was weakening. She knew the time was coming to stand and fight.

At last, the opportunity presented itself; a clearing, where she may at least be able to have enough room to maneuver he saber-staff. She put on a burst of speed, arriving well ahead of the Knights. She skidded to a stop, and turned, breathing deeply to slow her pulse and at least appear calm. They must have sensed her halt, because when they came, they came slowly, like something out of nightmares. They were the monster that knew their prey was hopeless and could not escape. She lit her saber-staff and snarled in defiance. There was scattered laughter as they advanced on her. She could sense their thoughts; they thought themselves unbeatable. Rey used this to her advantage; as they lunged at her, and each hacked, swung, and stabbed with his own rhythm. She maneuvered them closer to one another, and finally managed to tangle their light-sabers up together. With two quick slashes of her saber-staff, she dispatched one of the Knights. He sank slowly to his knees as he stared in shock at his own insides leaking out of the seam Rey had created.

Enraged at the death of their comrade, the remaining Knights redoubled their efforts. Under their onslaught, Rey suffered many wounds; some minor, some assuredly not. First there was the slash at her left shoulder; then another at her right; as the pain set in, more and more set in, until one final slash from her left hip to her right shoulder sent her to her knees. One of the Knights raised his hand and sent her flying, end-over-end, into a massive boulder. She hit the boulder with a sickening crunch, and slid down to the mossy floor. The last thing Rey heard before she blacked out was an enraged roar and the angry hiss of an engaged light-saber.

***Author's Note***

I know, I know; the first few chapters have been super plot-heavy. I'm sorry, but I swear, it's necessary. Just a little more plot to get through, and then the lemon-y goodness will begin! I promise! Let me know what you've thought so far. ^_^