A/N: I do not own Star Wars. Get ready for some feels!
Star Wars: I'll Die Another Day, Chapter 2- The Thing I Don't Want To Do, I Do
Starkiller Base
Present Day
Han Solo was having a severe case of déjà vu. He remembered the Death Star, and how he had snuck around it for a while, helping Luke rescue a Princess.
Now, Han was helping an ex-Stormtrooper sneak back on to Starkiller Base- a bigger Death Star, in his opinion- to rescue the girl he was smitten with.
History repeats itself.
There was one difference, though; Leia had asked Han before leaving that if he saw Ben, to bring him home.
Oh, Leia, I don't know if I can do it.
Han had seen, firsthand, what Ben Solo and his new friends had done to Luke's Academy. In the years after that, Han had heard reports of atrocities the First Order would commit, and would wonder if his son had been there.
He knew Leia had similar thoughts, and wished that Ben had indeed not been there.
And so they snuck through the base, Han marveling about how the First Order could train their soldiers to be decent shots- but not about such things as peripheral vision. It was rather easy to sneak in and disable the planetary shields before disposing of Finn's former commanding officer via garbage chute.
At least I'm not going down there this time, Han mused.
Moments later, they found Rey. Han and Chewie worked to blow up the building they were in while Finn blasted everything resembling a Stormtrooper in his drive to get to Rey.
Han had placed all of his charges, and was just about to climb up a ladder, when he saw him.
Ben Solo. Kylo Ren.
Son.
Ben was stomping across a catwalk, unaware that dear old Dad was right there. Han moved to the edge of the catwalk, hand straying to his trusted blaster and lightsaber.
It would be so easy to walk away…
But he's my son. Leia's son. Our son.
"BEN!"
Ben Solo stopped, indignation flashing across his face.
Of all the bantha loving-
Ben turned to face his father.
"Han Solo. I've been waiting for this day for a long time."
Han Solo strode towards his long lost son.
"Take off that mask. Ya don't need it."
"What do you think you'll see if I do?"
"The face of my son."
To Han's relief, Ben took off that ridiculous helmet.
"Your son… is gone. He was weak and foolish, like his father. So I destroyed him."
"That's what Snoke wants you to believe. But it's not true. My son is alive."
"No. The Supreme Leader is wise."
"Snoke is using you for your power. He gets what he wants, he'll crush you. You know it's true."
Ben was quiet for a few moments. "It's too late."
"No, it's not. Leave here with me, come home. We miss you."
"I'm being torn apart. I want to be free of this pain. I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it."
"Will you help me?"
"Yes. Anything."
Ben dropped the helmet, and unclipped his lightsaber, holding it sideways between them. Han reached out to grab it, just as the light from the nearby star faded away, consumed by the immense fuel requirements for Starkiller Base.
And that was when the hairs on the back of Han's neck stood ramrod straight up.
No…
Han jumped back, just as Ben Solo- now Kylo Ren once more- ignited his saber. Han followed suit a moment later, and the sabers met with a loud crash.
Han backpedaled, each saber strike being safely blocked by those of his son. Even though the blade hadn't even touched his heart yet, it sure felt like it.
Up above, Rey and Finn started firing at all the Stormtroopers they could see while Chewie found the ones they couldn't, as father and son hacked it out.
Kylo Ren was out of practice, sure, but so was Han- and the smuggler was far older. Han would have preferred pushing forward with everything he had, but now it took everything he had to fend off his son.
Ben, STOP! Don't make me do this! Han pleaded mentally.
No. The voice was Kylo's, and entirely unwelcome. Han had hated it whenever Ezra, Luke, or Leia got in his head; the same now went for Kylo.
Get out.
The two men continued in their deadly dance, until another snap-hiss was heard.
Finn had joined the fight. Between them, Kylo Ren was hard pressed to keep up, with Finn providing the energy that Han lacked.
Han began to tire, but, like the stubborn nerf-herder that he was, the old man pressed on.
Until his grip faltered for a moment. Kylo was too skilled not to seize the opportunity, and knocked Han's saber from his hand, before shoving him away with the Force. Kylo Ren advanced towards the man he had once called "Father."
"You thought I could be saved. Like I said- weak and foolish."
Kylo raised his saber. "Goodbye, Father."
Han was too dazed to move.
But before the blow could land, Finn blocked it, and the two continued the dance.
Then, Finn went down, a nasty looking gash running dangerously close to his spine.
That was when Rey appeared, Han's saber held aloft.
And they went at each other. Han would later say that he had never seen anything like it. Rey was matching the former Jedi blow for blow.
Just like her father, Han mused. Gifted.
Han watched as the scavenger from Jakku held her ground, and at one point even managed to slash the tip of her weapon across Kylo's face.
Ouch. That'll scar.
The change that came over Kylo as he stumbled away in shock was swift. Before, he had been cold, calculating, methodical in his movements, putting no more energy than necessary into his strikes.
After that strike, Han could see the glint in his son's eyes. It was something primal, animalistic.
So was the sound that came forth from his lips.
And Kylo Ren's attacks became savage, every ounce of power he had behind every blow.
Not even a prodigy like Rey could keep up. In much the same manner that Han had been disarmed, so was Rey.
Kylo Ren advanced menacingly towards the young scavenger, calling the saber Finn had been using, then the one Rey had borrowed. A slight gesture with the Force, and Rey was now upright, on her knees. Kylo Ren circled her before raising one of the lightsabers, fully intent on taking her head off while giving Han a full view of the show.
No…
Han was fully awake now. There was no time. Han had tried, but the boy was too far gone.
Leia… I'm sorry… I tried.
"BEN!"
Kylo Ren made one fatal mistake in that moment- his focus was on the wrong thing. After that swipe at his face, Kylo had been so determined to make the scavenger pay that he had forgotten about Solo completely.
Kylo never saw Han's right arm move. He never heard the slight sound of a blaster being pulled from its holster.
By the time Han had shouted his son's name, it had been too late.
BLAM BLAM BLAM!
Shock was evident on the faces of all who witnessed it. None more so than Ben Solo. He could smell the charred flesh, could feel his life force ebbing away.
There was only one thing he could say in that moment.
"Thank you…"
It was a long, somber ride back to the Resistance base. Finn was laid up in the medbay, Rey was in the navigator's chair, just detached from everything, Chewie was flying the Falcon, and Han-
-Han kept watch over his son. There was no place Han felt he should be.
Oh, my son. What have I done?
Leia was there when the Falcon landed. Finn was immediately rushed to the infirmary, but Leia paid them no attention. She had felt someone die.
Chewie and Han came down that ramp next, carrying someone on a stretcher. Leia knew all too well now who it was.
NO!
Leia collapsed, but Han caught her before she hit the ground.
"I'm so, so sorry, Leia. I… t-tried. I really did. But he was just too far gone."
Leia didn't stop crying for a long, long time.
Sure, the Resistance won, but for Han and Leia, the war had taken too much from them.
Finn recovered, and, after asking Han first, took the last name of Solo. Together with Rey and Poe Dameron, the pilot who had destroyed Starkiller Base, the trio would go on to change the galaxy.
When Rey finally faced Snoke, having completed her training under Luke Skywalker, she fought in Ben's name, using the unique saber the old monster's apprentice had created to bring the monster down.