We return now to the Supreme Leader, his counteroffensive, and the hierarchy of the First Order.
An aside: I've noticed reviews commenting on my typos and grammatical issues. I appreciate the comments and I thank you all for taking the time to read this far into my story. To elaborate on that note: I cannot produce this story at the rate that satisfies me while ensuring that the typos are removed. I do apologize for this, and if it dampens your enjoyment of the story. I am a manic writer-always have been, always will be. I won't be commenting on typos from this point forward, but I thank the user for taking the time to bring this to my attention.
Also, we're going to be playing with the Force in ways not previously seen. If stringent adherence to the canon material is important to you, you may want to read the final scene in this chapter before deciding to invest further time into it. I will NOT be contradicting established lore (movies only), but I will be ADDING onto Force powers. This is necessary to this story. Also, and I figure this is a given, Snoke backstory will be added. This is also necessary to my continuation of Ben's story.
Without further adieu:
8. Ben II
The wreckage of the Supremacy was as brilliant as it was severe.
From early reports, it was discovered that a high-ranking Resistance member had been able to cripple the Supremacy. But Ben had been far too focused on the Battle of Crait to be briefed on the matter. Now that ample time was had, it was clear that a death run had been carried out. The Resistance's largest ship was now atomized across twelve systems at least. And the wreckage of the Supremacy and several other star destroyers was perhaps one of the most crushing blows the First Order had ever received. The loss of Starkiller Base had been a loss of a weapon, and several thousand trooper units. The loss of the Supremacy and ships meant that each remaining ship in the First Order fleet would need to be running far above capacity.
Ben was standing now in a hangar bay on his personal Dreadnaught, the Apex. He stood alongside High General Warren and watched as the last of the transport vessels moved into the hanger for the day.
Ben had ordered the evacuation of all remaining troopers aboard the crippled ships. Perhaps some would view this as a move of compassion-as thousands of troopers and officers survived the attack. However, it was more of an action that was based in reason-as the recovery units would need to depressurize the ships before salvaging parts could commence, and something about the idea of blasting thousands of living soldiers into the vacuum of space made Ben worry for morale.
"I want a full report of all units that arrive on this Dreadnaught," Ben told Warren beside him. "Each needs to be given a full diagnostic before being reassigned to another unit. Keep troopers in former units together if you can. We need the extra morale."
"Yes, Supreme Leader," Warren responded.
"Any reports of Captain Phasma?" Ben asked.
"None so far," Warren noted. "If we hear something, we will inform you at once."
"Good," Ben replied. But he worried for her. Captain Phasma was a fierce and loyal member of the First Order. Her kind was hard to come by, and sorely needed while the First Order was restructuring. He held hope that she survived the attack, but that hope was fleeting."
Ben looked forward to see a transport open to reveal more salvaged troopers. They were in various states of dress-some were in full uniform, while others held even basic outerwear in tatters. Each seemed shocked and confused as to what was happening.
"They look like common criminals," Ben said aloud. While he was only making an observation, it was clear that the High General took the note seriously. He marched across the hangar and towards the men.
"At attention, you filth!" He cried to the men. Within a moment, all stood erect and still. "Have you forgotten your training, or did a little attack scare you that much?"
Demeaning the troops was something Ben was familiar with watching. While he usually shied away from the mass shaming that Warren was inflicting on them now, he had seen Hux do so several times prior.
But this wasn't right. Not now. How could he ask these men to fight for him if he wasn't willing to show just a hair's breadth of compassion? It was not a thought he had entertained before. Certainly Snoke wouldn't approve of trying a moment of humanity with them.
But Ben wasn't Snoke.
"Enough, General," Ben called out as he closed the gap between him and the men. Most of them looked visibly shocked. It seemed as if they did not know the Supreme Leader was so close. "I believe we have time to give them a moment's reprieve."
"Sir," Warren answered in the affirmative and took a step back.
Good boy, Ben thought to himself. He knows when to bark and when to sit.
Ben eyed the troopers as they each tried not to look to him. He needed one to show compassion to, in order to show the others a favorite. If he complimented the entire group, that would not do. No, he had to favor one to create competition.
He picked a trooper whose eyes he could see. A small soldier with blond hair in locks that threatened to cover his face.
"You," Ben said calmly. "Step forward."
The boy shook as he did so.
"Identify yourself."
"MR-0101," the trooper responded.
"0101?" Ben repeated back. "That's a hell of a set. They give you a nickname for that?"
"Binary, sir."
"Binary," Ben said. "MR Corps. They were assigned to the Supremacy if I remember correctly."
"Yes, Supreme Leader," came Binary's response.
"And how are you feeling, Binary?" Asked Ben. "Like we're loosing? Like the First Order can't control a small band of dissenters?" He hoped Binary here would be smart enough to give a good answer. If not, well...it would be easy to throw him through to magnetic field.
"Half the MR Corps were killed in the attack on the Supremacy," said Binary, after thinking for a moment. "Those were good men."
"...and?"
"...And I would give anything to have killed that pilot myself."
"I like this one," Ben said to Warren, pointing to Binary. "Ensure he and the others are given hot showers and the best quarters we can find. And talk to Binary about the reformation of the MR unit." Ben turned back to Binary. "I'm in need of a valiant corps to escort me once we begin our counter-offensive. You think your men are up to the challenge?"
"I could think of no greater reward, Supreme Leader," said Binary. He looked as he were about to cry. "You honor me."
"I look forward to the day the MR corps rises back to its former glory," came Ben's response. "Carry on."
He signaled Warren, and the two left the troopers and hangar crew to continue operations. Out of the corner of Ben's eye, he could see the other troopers talking amongst themselves.
"Forgive me, Supreme Leader," Warren began. "I'm afraid I do not understand what the point of that interaction was."
"These men have never known kindness," Ben said. "A spark of hope could help us prevent another...FN-2187 situation. And besides; that trooper will be the envy of all other men."
"But what of your current escort, sir?" Warren asked. "Will we be replacing them?"
"I've never had an official escort," Ben replied. "Snoke had his Praetorian Guards, and I took whichever escort corps was assigned to me. This way, I get a few mindless men with guns to walk with me, and half of the First Order army whispering my praises and the praises of the MR corps to each other."
"A wise move, sir," Warren said. "I apologize for having not seen it your way."
Ben had to stop himself from laughing-as it was abundantly clear that Warren was lying through his teeth. But he was a smart man. He'd learn. For now, he needed to light a spark of hope for one other person.
"Carry on with the salvation operation," Ben said. "I want every scrap of our ships re-used and built twice as strong as it was before."
"At once, sir," Warren said, and then excused himself.
As smart as Warren was, he worried Ben.
He was too smart.
The next few hours had been filled with Ben overseeing reports from the Overbridge, and traveling to General Hux's star destroyer. Yesterday has been about tearing down the old. Today was about the re-birth of the First Order.
A major part of that re-birth was the solution to Hux. He had chosen to isolate Hux from dealing with him directly, for a good reason-he needed Hux to savor every moment he had with the Supreme Leader. He needed Hux to have the opportunity to prove himself. Today, he was going to give him that chance.
Why dismiss Hux when you could pit him against Warren and let the winner be better and stronger than the two of them?
This was the plan. And it was what he thought of when Hux came into the meeting room and bowed to him.
"Supreme Leader," Hux said. "Forgive my tardiness. I was not expecting a visit from you so soon."
"Come now, General," Ben replied. He was seated-slouching-at the edge of the table. "You don't think I would have forgotten to pay you a visit? Besides, we have an important matter to attend to."
"My men have shifted their schedules accordingly," Hux replied. "We will train them twice as hard. We will be ready for a full-scale invasion of whichever planet need be."
"That's actually why I'm here," Ben said. "I've been so busy ensuring the restructure of the First Order, that I've completely forgotten to assign a General the task of finding the Resistance."
Hux looked up. Ben could tell Hux thought this was a joke.
But it was no joke to Ben.
"Supreme Leader-" Hux started.
"So? Can you do it?" Ben asked. "We'll be finished with the wreckage in a fortnight, or so, from what Warren tells me. Do you think that's enough time to find which planets the Resistance might have traveled to?"
"I am sure of it," answered a confident Hux. He was smart enough to realize that this was his chance to return to good graces with Ben. "It would be an honor to find the rebel scum-wherever it may be."
"I will see to it that the rest of the First Order is informed of your new...responsibility," Ben said. "You'll have all the resources you'll need. I trust that you won't fail me."
"Of course, sir," Hux said. He was clearly trying to hide a smile. "I'll see to it personally. It will be my sole mission."
Ben nodded. "I look forward to my first briefing," he said. He stood from the room and left without another word.
Now, with Hux on the search for the Resistance and Warren in charge of the salvation project, all was moving steadily.
But there was one final mission to accomplish today.
One dangling thread. One problem that would not cease to bother him.
He thought of it as he traveled back to the Overbridge, and then to his new quarters.
Rey.
The problem of Rey was going to be the most difficult one to solve. It was the least simplistic. It was the least objective. How could he afford to keep his feelings away?
No, he thought to himself. I don't need to keep my feelings away. I need to embrace them. My anger. My hatred.
He prepared himself in a secluded room in his quarters. A room he had designated solely for the practice and recitation of the Force. He closed his eyes and felt the living Force flow through him. He thought of Rey. He reached out.
He knew he was capable of a great many things. And he would keep trying to establish the connection with Rey until he was capable of the power. Without Snoke to stand in his way, nothing was stopping him from realizing his full potential in the Force.
He could feel entities all around him now. The officers in the ship. The living creatures in their incubation chambers nearby. Even the life force of the animals on nearby Crait. All of it.
But as he continued to search, one nebulous entity seemed to approach.
"Rey?" Ben called out to it. "Is that you?"
He felt the presence come towards him after he spoke. Was it her? He thought to himself. Have I discovered this bridge of the Force?
As the presence came to him, he found himself opening his eyes, to see nothing but the walls of this room. Perhaps he couldn't see her in this way, he thought to himself. But could she hear me?
"Hello?" Ben called out. He knew a force was present, but he could not see it clearly.
That was, until the force embodied itself into a voice. A chilling presence filled the room. Some thing had arrived.
"Ben Solo," came a voice. "So this is what's become of you."
"Who is this?" Ben asked. The more he tried to understand who he was speaking to, the more he felt a cold chill run up his spine. Who was this?
"So much promise...given to you. And yet you squander it on this. Meaningless. You hold hollow power."
"I am the Supreme Leader of the First Order!" Ben defended himself. "I own half of this galaxy! Who are you to tell me I hold hollow power?"
"A man who held such power myself," came the response. "You know, you sound like someone I've met before. Some decrepit creature from the Unknown Regions. He asked me to train him in the dark side, but I refused. I was Master-I was only an apprentice. But when he left, he had that same spunk. That same anger you do."
"You speak of Snoke," Ben said, absolute. "I can feel it. But I can't feel you."
"That's because you closed yourself from me," the voice continued. "You closed yourself off from all of us. Funny, how the dark side is. The pursuit of power, and for what? Oblivion? Those of us that sought the light were granted with a far better fate."
"I don't seek the light!" Ben defended, but he knew it was worthless. This voice knew more of him than even he did.
"No, you don't," the voice replied. "But you're conflicted. For the first time in a while, you've grown accepting of the light side of the force. And because of this, I can finally speak to you. And maybe...I can put to rest the crimes I committed in life. I can put an end to the damnation I have brought to our family."
"Our family..." Ben thought. Something unspeakable grew in him. "You can't be-"
"I am," said the voice. "I am the truth you never learned. I came to the light at the end of my life. And I am your Grandfather...Anakin Skywalker."
"No!" Ben called out. He turned away from the voice. He took to his feet and fled the room. How could it be? The thoughts rushed to his head. Anakin Skywalker-his grandfather, Lord Vader-was the master of the dark side. He was killed by the traitorous Luke Skywalker. How could he speak to Ben now? After all the times he spent trying to reach out to him! Now? And he tells him that he sought the light side! It was untrue! It was impossible!
"Ben?" came a voice behind him.
Before he could even think he turned in place and prepared to ask these questions to the apparition that dared call itself Anakin Skywalker.
But what he saw instead was Rey-standing alone in the Falcon.
"Did..." Ben started. "...Did you do this? Did you cause this connection through the Force?"
"Ben, I've told you," Rey said. "I cannot control this. What...what happened to you?"
Ben wanted to lie to her, but he couldn't. He was so confused-so lost. How could Vader turn? How could he?
"I don't know..." Ben said. "I saw something. I heard a voice I wasn't supposed to hear."
Rey didn't respond for a moment. Then: "I heard a voice too. As if someone were calling out to me. Someone that's...that's no longer here. Do you know of any such power?"
"No," Ben admitted. He wanted to be angry with her-he was angry with her. But right now a different emotion was on his mind.
It was fear.
It was all too overwhelming. Never in his life had he been shaken like this. Never in his life has he been this unsure. This weak.
"Ben, I'm going to uncover the truth of the Jedi," Rey said. "I'm leaving all of this behind. You can come with me. You can help me find the answers we both need!"
Ben looked to her, tears in his eyes. "Rey," he begged.
But the rift faded, and she faded with it.
"No!" He cried out. He ran towards her, but she was gone by the time he reached her. The last thing he saw from her was a pensive expression. Was she being truthful? He thought to himself. Was she willing to meet with him? Was she going to discover the ways of the Jedi?
Ben was left with no answers, and even more questions. How could he control the rift? How could Anakin turn? How? How?
In a way, he was glad the rift closed as quickly as it had opened.
Because he almost accepted her offer.
He almost gave into the light.
This was a hell of a chapter to write.
The realization of Anakin Skywalker's salvation will shake Ben to the core. Now more willing to hear the calls to the light, other apparitions of the empire before him could begin to return to plead with him.
And what's more, is their ability to speak to Rey as well.
Every day, Ben moves to the light-and Rey towards the darkness. Will they meet in the middle?
I've opened a lot of opportunities here-options I hope to exhaust as the story progresses. These questions, I assure you, already have answers.
You just don't know them yet.
Until next,
- BYIT