Star Wars: A Bond Awakens

Chapter Seven: Ben is Gone

She followed Han, Chewy, and Finn onto the base, waving goodbye to Leia.

Chewy sat in the co-pilot seat, Han where he was always seated, and Finn and Ora stood behind them. Both Chewy and Han flipped a few switches, turned on the engine and they were off into the galaxy.

"Finn, Chewy, do you mind if I talk to Ora for a few minutes?" Han asked.

Chewy groaned. Anything you say can be said in front of me.

Han gave Chewy a look. Finn didn't need to be asked twice, and he left with Chewy shuffling behind.

Ora looked at Han questioningly, waiting for a lecture or something of the sort. But right now, Ora was okay with that.

"Look, as much as I may have seemed...upset, I'm not. Not upset about what you might think. I'm just worried the kid will..." he trailed off unsure how to finish without being too harsh.

"...will grow up without a father? Will grow up knowing his father is on the dark side? I've thought about that too. And I'm worried, but the more I thought about it, the more I'm okay with you being the fatherly figure in his life."

"It's a he huh? You know?"

Ora smiled. "Leia seems to think she does."

"Well, I know full well she usually is." He chuckled.

"Don't think I don't know that you were listening to us back there. Listen, as much as I and Leia and especially you want to bring Ben home..."

"It's not likely," Ora finished for him again. "I know."

Without permission, Finn ran back in, breathless. "We are getting close. How do you suppose we're getting in?"

Chewy came in and grabbed him by the jacket collar.

"It's alright, Chewy, we were finished anyway." Han waved his hand. "Their shields have a fractional refresh rate. It keeps anything traveling slower than lightspeed from getting through."

Finn looked deadpanned. "We're making our landing approach at lightspeed?"

Chewy growled.

"Alright," Han said, tugging at some switches, "Get ready...And...now!" Suddenly, everyone jerked back in their seats as they slipped through the shield.

Chewy growled again.

"I am pulling up!" Han yelled.

Ora was sure she was going to be sick. She grabbed the can next to her and vomited her lunch. Finn looked at her with disgust. He waved a hand back and forth in front of his nose. "Goodness, I hope we land soon."

The pregnant woman glared at him.

Chewy was still complaining to Han.

"IF I GET ANY HIGHER, THEY'LL SEE US!" Han roared over the loud sound of breaking trees.

With every bump and jerk, Ora was worried. She held on tightly to her belly, regretting and hating herself every second for this damned landing. As they slid through the snow, she noticed a very high drop off was soon approaching them. Thankfully, they stopped just short of going over it. Ora sighed with relief, sinking into her chair.

"Are you okay, Ora?"

"Yea." She closed her hands, laying a hand on her stomach. Everything was okay. "Everything is okay."

Han nodded.

Everyone hopped out of the Falcon and made their way to the entrance of the precinct. They hid themselves behind a wall. Finn was first with his blaster ready. Han had his trusty DL-44, Chewy with his crossbow, and Ora held tight to her own DH-17.

"The flooding tunnel is over that ridge. We'll get in that way," Finn explained.

Han knitted his brows together. "What was your job when you were based here?"

"Sanitation."

Han gritted his teeth, grabbing the back of the jacket Poe lovingly gave him just as Chewy had only an hour before. "Sanitation? Then how do you know how to disable the shields?"

"I don't. I'm just here to get Rey. Which is why I'm glad Ora came. She can use the Force to pinpoint her location."

"People are counting on us, the galaxy is counting on us!" Han said, exasperated.

"Solo, we'll figure it out. We'll use the Force!"

Ora looked at him just as angry as Han was. "That isn't how it works. You aren't even trained. You aren't a Jedi. You can't use the Force like that!"

"But you can," he said.

Chewy moaned.

Han turned to him, ready to hit something. "Oh really? You're cold?"

"Come on," Finn said.

They darted away from the generator and headed towards the entrance. Ora was cold, too. The jacket was more for looks than it was for warmth, that was for sure. She was just glad she had wrappings on her arms. Thanks to Leia, who seemed to think of everything for her, she was warmer now in her new clothes than she would have been if Leia didn't care so much.

The door in front of them opened.

"Hey!" Han yelled, shooting the trooper down.

He was panting. It was clear the energy was no longer there. "The longer we're here the less luck we're gonna have. The shields, Finn?"

Finn nodded, "Yea, I have an idea about that."

xxx

"You remember me?" Finn asked defiantly.

One day he is going to get the lot of them in so much trouble. Leia should have told him about staying out of it before they left, not her.

The silver armored trooper was now in their grasps. Han held his gun to her while Chewy held fast to her arm, aiming his crossbow at her head. No way she could get away.

"FN-2187," she replied as if bored out of her wits.

"Not anymore!" Finn said with so much sass, it clearly could not be contained, "My name's Finn and I'm in charge. I'm in charge now, Phasma. I'm in charge!"

"Bring it down," Han said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Bring it down."

They brought her to the control room, demanding her to disable the shields. Finn grew impatient. "You want me to blast that bucket off your head? Lower the shields."

"You're making a big mistake," she growled. But she continued to disable them. "You can't be so stupid as to think this will be easy. My troops will storm this block and kill you all."

Ora glared at her. Even if she did look pretty badass in her shiny armor and side-cape.

Finn ran up to her and held the blaster at her throat. "I disagree. What do we do with her?" he asked Han.

"Is there a garbage chute? A trash compactor?"

Ora smiled, remember the stories he told her about the adventures of Han Solo, Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker.

Finn smirked. "Yea, there is."

xxx

Her hormones were starting up. One moment she was so full of hope and happiness, nothing could bring her down. Yet, the next she was depressed and ready to give up, wondering how anything could get better. That was also the point where she would get angry.

Right now she was angry.

Finn was on another one of his oblivious rants. Han tried to stop him, but he wouldn't shut up about Rey. Ora started to truly believe he was in love with her. And yet, the blind one couldn't notice that we were all point right at her. There she was climbing the shafts like a skilled ninja, trying to free herself of the Starkiller base and it's First Order minions.

Finn finally turned around seeing Rey.

They all headed her direction and right as they turned the corner, they ran into Rey, which startled the moonlights out of her.

"What happened to you? Did he hurt you?" Finn asked.

Rey glanced at Ora and then back at Finn, shaking her head. "What are you doing here?"

Ora walked away as Han did, scanning the window for trouble. She felt a disturbance. Something in the Force calling her away. She knew this time, though. She knew the Force was pulling her towards him.

But she ignored it.

"Escape now!" Han said. "Hug later."

Ora turned back and followed them through the halls. They made it back out. It was chaos outside. X-Wings were being destroyed and falling to the ground. The Resistance was struggling. There had to be something more they could do to help.

"They're in trouble," Han sighed. "We can't leave." Suddenly, he looked at Finn with a sly smile. "My friend's got a bag full of explosives. Let's use them. Rey, Finn, you keep Ora protected and disable the doors to get me and Chewy inside. Chewy and I will plant the explosives."

They all headed their separate ways, but Han stopped Ora. "Ora, please be careful."

She laughed at him. "I'm always careful, as you can see," she said gesturing towards her swollen stomach. "But you, Han, I could say the same, smuggler."

He smiled back at her and then left with Chewy.

Ora followed Rey to one of the switch boxes on the outside of the building. She examined it quickly, locating exactly what she needed. With a quick jerk, she yanked it out, successfully overriding the barriers. Ora looked at her now like she was the one with all the extraordinary talent.

"I'm surprised these men let you come here," Rey said after lifting the jacket up to see.

Ora laughed, tugging it back into place. "Well, these men have realized I am a very valuable person that has a lot of use coming here and helping the Resistance."

Rey smiled, hugging her tightly. "It's been so long. It wasn't just me who heard you through the Force was it?"

She shook her head, both of them holding on to one another's arms.

"It was like you were in my head...like you were right there to stay strong," Rey said giddily.

"I wasn't sure you heard me!" Ora hugged her again. "I'm so glad you did."

"Guys," Finn said, looking up at the sky.

Ora saw the sun being sucked into the planet's weapon. Focusing now, she could see how much dimmer the planet got; the shadows invading everything as the light began to disappear. There wasn't much time at all.

"Let's go," Ora said.

All three of them climbed the latter to alert Han and Chewy. They finally reached the top. Rey unplugged another gadget to release that doow and it slid open with ease. They rushed to the balcony and looked down below. Kylo Ren stood, hood down, on the bridge. Han Solo was approaching him. Ora felt him...felt Ben's heart pick up pace. There was an increasing pain that rose through her, and she could feel that he felt it too.

Ora grabbed Rey's hand for comfort. Rey gave her a questioning look, but quickly turned back to Han.

"Take off that mask," Han said, "You don't need it."

Ora watched with anxiety so great, there were beads of sweat falling down her face.

Rey leaned over to her, "Calm down. Everything will be okay. Love conquers everything, right? It's not good for the baby if you stress."

She couldn't bring herself to show her face the positive, innocent Rey. She stayed focus on Ben...willing him to notice her...to feel that bond.

"What do you think you'll see if I do?" Kylo Ren asked.

"The face of my son."

Ben reached for his helmet, pressing a button to release it. Ora wasn't sure if she was ready. It hadn't been long, but it had been long enough and knowing how much torment he was in, she was sure seeing him in such torment would make her feel worse.

He lifted it above his head and holding it in his right hand. He was still the same oddly beautiful soul he was before, but there was much more corruption in his eyes... No, not corruption... Brokenness.

"You're son," he began in a monotonous voice, "is gone. He was weak and foolish like his father. So I destroyed him."

Tears streamed down her face. To hear him say it, to hear him so sure of it... Ora couldn't bare it; she couldn't truly believe his words. Not wholly.

Han approached him further, trying to keep his voice even and loving. "That's what Snoke wants you to believe. But it's not true. My son is alive. Snoke is using you for your power. When he gets what he wants, he'll crush you. You know it's true.

No matter how far away she was from him right now, she could clearly see the water in his eyes threatening to trickle over. "It's too late," Ben said in a whisper.

Han was determined now, feeling protective over his son. "No, it's not. Leave here with me, with Ora. Come home. We miss you. Ora can't stop talking about you."

Ben's eyes faintly flashed up at the balcony where they stood, a small tear freeing itself down his cheek. When he spoke, his voice was breaking. "I'm being torn apart."

Yes, she could feel him truly breaking.

"I want to be free of this pain. And I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?"

Ora was so intent on listening to his voice, that she ignored the Force. She felt him breaking, but that's all she dared herself to feel. She watched as Han said, "Yes. Anything."

Ben dropped his helmet to the ground. There was a happiness swelling in her. She felt hope once more. All she could think about was bringing him home, finally being with him once more.

Ben took out his unstable lightsaber and offered it to Han. Han placed a hand on it. Ora stepped closer and leaned gently on the railing. Suddenly, the light behind her vanished, leaving them all in the dark shadows of a sunless planet. She turned back to watch them only stare into each other's eyes. There seemed to be a slight struggle with the saber. That was when she allowed to feel him fully again. The pain was more than she had imagined.

It happened so quickly, she almost missed it with the blink of her eyes, but there was the lightsaber activating and jamming right through Han. Ora let go of the railing, backing away slightly not believing her naive eyes.

Finn gasped. Chewy howled to the moon like a wolf warning his pack.

"No!" Rey screamed with all her might.

Ora hadn't the strength to say anything. She fell to her knees, keeping her eyes on the only father she ever had, the only true constant she had ever known. She was sobbing now quite uncontrollably. She crawled closer to the edge of the balcony, clinging to the rails, begging for Han to come back as if he had a choice.

Rey was crying out just as hard, repeating no over and over. Finn tried to keep a hand on her in comfort, but he was just as in shock as the rest. Han couldn't die. He just couldn't.

Ora watched as Han put a gentle, loving hand on Kylo's cheek... And with that, Han fell into the dark abyss below. Ora folded over and clung to the jacket she wore. She felt so much pain, it was now physically agonizing. She tried calming herself, but nothing was working. The Force all around her was screaming out in agony.

Mom, she cried out to Leia over the Force, never having called anyone with such a loving title, I can't do this anymore. Now more than ever does she regret not letting Han know just how much she needed him in her life; how important he was to everyone, including being her father.

Chewy roared with such distress. He aimed his crossbow at Kylo and shot him dead in the side, making sure only to wound him. Ora found it hard to look at him, so she turned away just as he looked up at the balcony towards the three lone humans of the Resistance.

The troopers started blasting every which way. Chewy managed his own while Rey, Finn, and Ora backed up, blasting away at the troopers. There was a loud explosion and the inside was caving in.

Ora looked at the man named Kylo Ren who looked up at Rey in anger. He clutched to his wound, clenched his jaw and moved forward. Rey grabbed Ora and Finn and they headed out to escape the crumpling oscillator.

They ran as hard and fast as they could through the snowy forest. It was hard for Ora to keep up. She was out of practice when it came to running and quite frankly, all the energy had been sucked out of her. But she pushed herself.

"The Falcon's this way," Finn said reassurringly.

Ora stopped, seeing that Kylo Ren stood before them, his lightsaber activated. Finn and Rey were in front of her, panting almost as hard as she was. The two walked up to Kylo, and Ora walked up strongly to their side. She was no longer sad or hurting. She was angry. Angrier than she could ever imagine herself to be. She didn't care who this man was standing in front of her. She didn't care about what his name was or where he came from or that he was the father of her kid. It didn't matter. The only constant...the last constant that she failed to realize she had was stolen from her because of him.

Rey turned her head to her. "You must leave, Ora. You aren't safe here."

"We're not done yet," he said to Finn, completely ignoring Rey and Ora.

Rey grew angry. She could no longer contain her fury. "You're a monster," she spat at him.

"It's just us now. Han Solo can't save you." He started beating his wound, blood staining the snow.

Ora felt something odd in her side, but she ignored it. She wasn't keen on appearances anymore. She was angry and she wanted to get him back...make him suffer for what he did to Han.

Rey lifted her gun, but Kylo quickly Force pushed her against the tree. She hit it hard enough to make her go unconscious.

"Rey!" Finn and Ora yelled.

Finn ran to her as did Ora, seeing that she was okay. Finn held her up in his arms. "Rey...No, no, no. Rey!"

"Traitor!" Kylo yelled at Finn.

The ex-trooper picked up the saber and activated it, ready to defend everything for Rey. Ora worried. He wasn't a Jedi. He wasn't trained. He was going up against a half-trained Jedi at least, how could Finn hold his own? Ora gently checked Rey's pulse and when she felt it, she left her alone for now and stood, waiting for the next move.

"That lightsaber belongs to me," Kylo sneered.

"Come get it!" Finn said. With a battle cry, he ran towards Kylo and they fought one another in clashing light. Finn may have been the first to attack, but the rest of the battle, he was all defense trying to deflect his opponent's lashes. With one mighty slash, Kylo put Finn to the ground. He circled around, beating his wound again, even harder this time.

Ora cried out in pain, clutching her left side.

Finn glanced at her confused, but got back up to attack again. Kylo then pushed him against a tree, shoving the side of his saber into his shoulder. Finn cried out in pain. Kylo went in for the kill, but Finn dodged him just in time. Somehow, Finn managed to get a small slice in Ren's shoulder. But Ren wasn't backing down so easily. He was angrier now than he had been. But that's what seemed to be his weakness. He was so full of emotion, he couldn't take out an untrained simple ex-trooper. But this time, Kylo knocked the saber out of Finn's hands and it went flying a few yards away.

With a single punch, Kylo turned Finn around and sliced deep into his back. Finn fell still on the ground.

Ora staggered to her feet, racing to Finn. She tried soothing him like Leia sometimes soothed her. Anger seeped through her as she looked up at Kylo Ren. Tears were streaming down her face and she didn't quite make out how the brooding figure's face turned sad.

The young Jedi slowly came back up to her feet. She took off Han's jacket and placed it on the ground, pulling and activating her lightsaber.

He only stood there, looking at her fully now, knowing there was something off...something different.

When her visions cleared and she finally took in his face, she remembered back before the temple was destroyed. She remembered everything right then in small flashes. And then she remembered her dream...and remembered how much he idolized his deceased grandfather.

Ora stopped her fighting stance and stood vulnerable, letting her lightsaber turn off.

"Go on, then. If you want to kill us, do it. You have your chance."

He ignored what she said. His jaw was clenched as he moved around her just a few steps. "Who have you been with?" he asked in a fierce, seething tone.

She looked up at him. He was close now. "You know who."

She was ready. Ready to feel the pain that Padme felt when she watched Anakin Force-choke her into unconsciousness. Ready to feel the pain that Leia and Han felt when they heard of their son turning to the dark side. She was ready for it to all be over.

He stood there before her, unsure of what to say or do. He was still so tormented inside. With hesitation, he placed a hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. To feel his lips on hers again somehow soothed her, eased the anxiety and stress. Ben rested his hand on her abdomen and she felt whole again. But it was over quickly.

Luke's lightsaber whizzed past them, stopping in the hands of Rey who glared at Kylo. "Let her go, you wicked creature!"

Ben waved a hand over Ora while she was distracted by Rey, and she succumbed to the darkness.