Chapter 27


It was six hours of hiking before Rey had reached the limits of Resistance monitoring and she considered that it was past midnight. During the fourth hour, she had stopped to eat what food she had brought with her and fill up her canteen of water. The radio had not gone off again, so Rey imagined that she wouldn't be contacted until she reached where the Knights wanted her.

D'Qar this far away from the base was hardly different and it was hours more of walking before she reached something that differed from the jungle, and this was flat plains. In the dark Rey could see very little, but she continued walking, finding that it was mostly dirt with small tufts of grass and shrubbery. Outside of the jungle it was considerably colder and Rey wrapped her cloak tighter around her.

It was just before 5AM when she saw the lights of the freighter and it landed in front of her, blowing dirt into her eyes. She hesitated for a moment before she climbed the ramp, considering whether if she ran now, could she get back before anyone noticed? Then her mind felt out for Ben and his steady presence moved her to enter the ship.

They were already in the air before Rey had uttered a word and when she walked to the cockpit, the crew were sitting in relative silence. Malikeen was no longer in the bacta tank and she sat to the side, sharpening a knife.

Rey swallowed and Barthius stood up from the pilot controls, which Finna then took over.

'You followed our instructions, wonderful.' He mocked her by clapping and then gestured to an empty seat. 'We've formulated a plan, though I imagine you're exhausted so you are welcome to sleep somewhere.'

She was tired, but Rey would be a fool to just sleep around these people and be completely defenceless.

'I would rather hear what you have planned.' Rey responded.

Barthius shrugged. 'Very well.'

Rey watched him warily as he moved about the cockpit and as Iulus got up, approached a console and pressed several buttons. Planet schematics popped up above the central table and Rey looked at them carefully, not having seen the planet before.

'Now this is where His Imperial Darkness, Supreme Leader Snoke is. This is naturally classified and your friends back on D'Qar probably still have no idea what he has been doing on this planet for the last twenty or so years.' Barthius said.

'What planet is this?' Rey questioned, narrowing her eyes.

Finna turned from the console and met Rey's gaze. 'Cantonica.'

Rey still had no idea and she took a look over the planet again. It seemed to have a single city and no life anywhere else on the planet. 'Why there?'

'Personal connection I imagine,' Barthius responded. 'Also, it's mostly abandoned and with enough money, anybody could make a desert the home of their secret base, no?'

She frowned and Barthius laughed.

Malikeen got up from her seat then, slipping her knife into a holder at her waist and she approached the two slowly. When she reached Rey, she looked her up and down before smirking. 'You're lucky you met me on an off day,' the Mirialan said simply.

'Now now, settle down Mal.' Barthius said with a chuckle.

'Could you tell me of this plan? I want this to be over already.' Rey said sharply.

The Anzat signalled to Iulus and the view became a zoomed angle of the planet. Eventually an open-air base came into view and it was relatively sizable.

'We will enter as usual, you as our prisoner and Snoke will want an immediate audience with us. Now he doesn't know that we have Mal, so she'll stay back and once I give the signal, we will all attack him together. As he keeps the base relatively secret, there are few guards and in his central throne room, there are none, so it shouldn't be too difficult to ambush him, especially with you. The man is too confident in himself.'

Rey watched the image turn in the air and breathed through her nose. 'Could you not have done this without me?'

'Force tricks are always useful, and of course, there is the whole situation of you securing Kylo's life. Otherwise we would kill him too. And don't you want to be known as the saviour?' Barthius enquired, scratching his chin with his forefinger.

She nodded despite being wary. Rey didn't know how powerful the Knights truly were, especially together and considering her Force abilities couldn't even work against them, she imagined that working together to kill Kylo could be done if they wanted to.

Rey bit down on her lip. She did not know of Snoke. She did not know what power he held and the thought of entering into a battle against him without knowing the odds, frightened her immensely.

'How long until we reach?' she questioned.

'A day at most,' Finna said from the pilot's seat.

Rey nodded and turned about her, looking for somewhere to sit and perhaps meditate at the very least. She couldn't be tired for this kind of mission, but she couldn't so easily let her guard down around these criminals.

As she sat in a corner of the room on top of her cloak, she was thrown a shuura fruit by Malikeen and she smelled it warily, considering whether they would poison her. Rey felt as if she had little choice and bit into the sweet fruit, hoping she wasn't wrong in going with the Knights, of completely abandoning her friends and the Resistance.

XxX

Rey was pulled out of her meditation by turbulence and she felt the ship begin its descent. She had managed to meditate on and off since getting onto the ship, picking at the food offered to her and not partaking in the Knights' various methods of entertainment. Despite her wariness, the Knights avoided talking to her and mostly ignored her. She was thankful for that much.

'I would advise clearing your mind if you're not capable of resisting Snoke's probing,' Barthius spoke as he lifted his feet up onto the consul.

Malikeen stuttered out a laugh. 'What kind of Jedi can't even resist?'

Rey frowned, knowing that she still had far to go with her training. 'I am more than capable of defending myself.'

Barthius turned to her and grinned. 'You'll need to make sure he doesn't get any important information from you.

She didn't respond, thankful that she knew very little about Resistance operations and even if the worst were to happen, Snoke would not be able to get anything of worth out of her.

Standing up, Rey took a seat and strapped herself down, not wanting to be thrown about if the turbulence grew worse.

When they finally touched down on Cantonica, Barthius jumped up from his position at the helm and immediately attached binders to Rey's wrists. He pointed to the slight malfunction in them, gesturing that she could break free with a strong tug and Rey nodded her understanding.

The four of them then began to gather their weapons. Iulus strapped his repeater cannon to his chest and then checked the knife at his waist with a nod. Malikeen inspected her vibro-swords and Finna grinned at Rey as he attached his own two swords to his back. Barthius seemed to be considering his weapon of choice, scratching his chin as he looked over several impact weapons attached to one of the cockpit walls. He eventually reached for a vibro-hammer and brought it down, weighing it in his hands.

The set up happened relatively quickly.

The shipyard itself was on the outer edge of the facility, built without a regard for overhead coverage. Rey had expected it to be partially underground, but the decision to build it out in the open baffled her. Though visibility was low from the air—the sand clouds and poor climate allowed for good cover— the base was just open and Rey considered that perhaps Barthius was right about Snoke. He was too confident. Though it couldn't be forgotten that after all these years, after all the subterfuge that the Resistance had been involved in, the planet Cantonica had not been considered, had not even been mentioned on files that Rey had access to.

Rey closed her eyes as a dust storm began and she felt it whip against her cheeks, knocking the few strands of hair about her forehead before she was pushed inside.

Whilst she had sensed Ben as soon as they had entered the atmosphere, it was as they walked through the main entrance from the shipyard that she could feel his heightened closeness. It was like she could feel his heartbeat as well as his Force signature and knowing that he could feel hers too, she felt his heartrate steadily increase.

At least it would be easier to take him with her this way and he would come, wouldn't he? The only thing stopping him was Snoke and if Snoke was dead, he would come willingly, wouldn't he?

They were then met by a few Stormtroopers, a message was sent directly to Snoke and within minutes, they were led through the facility with vigour. As the Stormtroopers gave her wary looks, Barthius had this continued look of satisfaction on his face. Rey was just thankful that he had not taken her Lightsaber and had allowed her to hide it beneath her cloak.

Rey convinced herself as they walked that Ben would come, beginning to lose her concentration on accessing her surroundings, only concentrating on his pulsing presence. He loved her, didn't he? She nodded and was prodded in the back with the end of Iulus' repeater cannon. It kept her walking and for a moment she felt as if this was real, as if she was actually a prisoner being taken to her death.

Despite her knowing that this was a trap, Ben did not know the same and as they moved closer towards him, she could feel his building panic. Rey remained composed, however, and she imagined he was confused by that.

The distance to Snoke's so-called throne room from the ship yard was quite considerable and on foot it was almost thirty minutes before they had reached. Ben seemed to have found a way to calm himself, as Rey felt his anxiety steady and she breathed easier.

They stopped at two large wooden doors and it did not take much thinking to figure out that they had finally arrived at Snoke's 'throne room'. Barthius pushed the double doors open and the Stormtroopers that had escorted them, disappeared back down the hallway.

Rey, pushed by Iulus' repeater cannon, stumbled into the middle of the room and then another knock pushed her to the stone floor. Though she knew it was a show of strength, she still grit her teeth together, wanting to fight the man.

When Rey looked up she paused for a moment, seeing Ben standing beside the sitting Snoke. Though she had known he was here, for some reason she hadn't expected to see him stand beside Snoke, his hand resting on his Lightsaber and his expression pinched. He met her gaze and Rey felt his fear spike, even if his expression told her very little. If she could read his mind, Rey imagined what he would be saying, what he would be asking. What are you thinking? You'll die here. How could you get yourself in this situation? She was here to do what she had been trained to do; defeat Snoke and bring Ben back.

'Barthius, what a pleasant surprise, and you've brought a gift?' Snoke spoke, his voice almost reptilian.

Rey chose not to meet Snoke's eyes and allowed herself to be pulled up to a standing position by Finna.

'We found her snooping around the Outer Rim and she was surprisingly easy to subdue. I wanted to eat her, but Finna suggested that we give her to you to dispose of her as you wish.'

Snoke almost smiled and he leant forward, his fingers folding together. 'You made the right decision.' He paused and cleared his throat. 'Girl, why won't you look at me?'

Barthius struck her against her back then and she fell forward again, feeling the rattle in her palms and knees and she hissed against the pain. The strike alone had hurt a considerable amount, her landing on the floor made her want to fight back.

'Speak.' The Anzat requested.

Rey grit her teeth together. 'Is it not my choice?' she questioned.

The unease in Ben only increased and she tried to push against him with warmth and translate to him that she was okay, even if the Knights were taking liberties. She glanced at him briefly, meeting his eyes and she could see his fear now. If Snoke were to look at his disciple, it would not be good.

'Your death warrant has been signed and yet you are still so cocky?' Snoke questioned. 'You are a foolish girl.'

Barthius nodded in agreement. 'Shall we leave it to you then?' he questioned.

Snoke considered the Anzat for a moment and Rey heard him adjust the vibro-hammer in his hands. Rey readied herself to pull the binders apart and then she felt a knife pressed against her lower back. She looked behind her and Malikeen had appeared, a massive grin on her face.

Rey looked at Snoke and he looked angry rather than scared. Malikeen pressed the knife further and Rey felt her skin break underneath the sharp edge. She tried to pull the binders apart and they wouldn't budge. The fear took over then and Rey realised she had been wrong. This was all wrong.

'What is this Barthius?' Snoke questioned.

Ben's eyes moved swiftly from Rey to Barthius and his hand gripped the hilt of his Lightsaber, now ready to remove it from its holder.

'What do you think it is Snoke?' Barthius questioned.

Malikeen moved the knife and then it was against Rey's throat, nicking the soft skin there.

'What will you do Kylo?' Barthius shouted with a cackle.

Snoke gripped onto his chair and narrowed his eyes at the group of them. 'Kill them all Kylo.' He said simply.

Ben nodded and pulled the Lightsaber from its holder, igniting it immediately.

Rey realised then that the Knights did not have the capacity to kill Snoke themselves and she wanted to scream out in anger. How had she been so foolish to think this wasn't a trap? That they hadn't known what Ben felt for her. Perhaps that had been what Barthius had meant all those weeks ago. That he could smell Ben on her, not because of their physical proximity, but because of their connection. She had been foolish to not understand the skills of the Anzat and now she was paying for it.

She was terrified to breathe, believing that Malikeen would slice the knife against her neck as soon as Ben moved towards them and she still struggled with the binders, knowing that even though she had been betrayed, they were still faulty, she had seen them herself.

Her frightened eyes met Ben's then and before she could think, or even know what he was thinking, Rey felt the thud of the vibro-hammer against her head and she went down in a heap, sprawled and unconscious, blood seeping from her cracked skull.

The Lightsaber in Ben's hand swung and Snoke's head went rolling from his body, hitting the stone ground with a thud and smoke emanating from the remains. Ben's eyes were wild as he looked from Snoke, to the Knights and to Rey, who lay motionless. His heart strained in his chest, sweat beginning to coat his forehead.

Barthius began cackling.

They all attacked then. Iulus, Finna, Malikeen and Barthius, all running at Ben as he lifted his Lightsaber to defend himself. He screamed as he thrashed at them, his eyes unable to tear away from Rey as he fought and was struck continuously. Ben could feel her growing weaker and he could feel a hole forming in his chest and his rage grew and grew.

The rage meant his fighting was erratic and the Knights continuously overwhelmed him, getting in slashes across his limbs and torso, as well as Barthius hitting him successfully with his hammer. Ben threw any method to the wind and just went for brute force. Rather than avoiding the strikes, he met them with his Lightsaber. Iulus went down first, Ben deflecting the cannon fire back at him. It led to a fired up Malikeen screeching as she ran at Ben with everything. Her mistake meant she went down next, half her body sliced away from the other with one swipe, her vibro-swords clattering to the ground, useless.

Ben was knocked down then and before he could be hit with the Thyrsian's two swords, he Force pushed him away and avoided the swing of Barthius' hammer. He grew tired quickly fighting off the two men and he felt himself disappearing with Rey as he fought. His screams did not end as he grew covered in sweat and his clothing and skin continued to tear.

One of Finna's swords plunged into his stomach first and the other was buried into his right shoulder. His leading arm grew weak and he moved his Lightsaber into his left hand, fending off another attack of equal magnitude. Ben felt that this was the end and it had finally come for him after all these years. He fought more, only able to move his left arm as the right began to be coated in warm blood, but another swing of Barthius' hammer caused the Lightsaber to drop from his only usable hand and he was left defenceless.

Ben backed up and Barthius began to laugh.

'Look at how frightened the poor boy is.'

Finna did not look as enthused and Ben did not miss him glancing to the bodies of Iulus and Malikeen elsewhere in the room.

'Have you not lost enough?' Ben questioned, exasperated. 'Just…just leave me,' he looked to Rey again. 'Leave me with her, I will die anyway.'

Barthius' expression soured again and he held the vibro-hammer tightly. 'We've come this far…and honestly, this is what I've wanted to do ever since I met you.' His tentacles retracted them, not wanting to waste a meal in Ben's death.

Ben pushed at the two of them with the Force, but they only slid a foot backwards and Ben eventually dropped to his knees, slipping in his own blood. His hand reached to the stab wound in his stomach and he held it tightly there, trying to stop the incessant bleeding.

His eyes met Barthius' as Finna stepped forward and lifted the two swords to him again, ready to take his life this time. Then Ben felt Rey.

She woke, pulling her binders apart and then the bright blue of her staff lit the two Knight's faces and the two ends were plunged deeply into both of their hearts. They sunk to their knees with rage in their faces, dying moments later.

Rey felt the steady trickle of blood down the back of her neck and her ears rung as her staff dropped from her hands. She knelt to meet Ben, a hand almost immediately reaching the most serious wound against his stomach, over his own hand, trying to stem the blood flow. Ben grew paler and he could no longer support himself on his knees.

'Ben…no…Ben, look at me, open your eyes,' Rey said panicked. Her blood-covered fingers touched his jaw and chin, but he did not react.

She felt his pain circulate within her and she put everything left of her exhausted mind into healing him like she had in their dreams. Her heart ached and her eyes burned with the beginnings of tears.

Blood bubbled from Ben's lips and she felt tears slip down her cheeks as she strained against the pain, against the hole forming within her chest.

'You won't die, you can't,' she whispered.

Her head rested against his shoulder as she willed him to heal until she felt like she would collapse. Ben's eyes remained closed, but she could feel the Force flow back through him, and feel the hole closing.

Ben stirred awake and Rey met his eyes, though his gaze seemed distant. 'This is right,' he murmured, squinting through the pain. His hand reached to move Rey away from him but he was far too weak.

'No.' Rey held his hand down and she met his eyes. 'Let me do this, let me heal you.'

He closed his eyes and his hand held onto Rey's, holding her still. 'Let me go, it's my time. I let this go on for too long.'

She leant over him, her tears dripping onto his cloak and she held a hand against his cheek. 'What am I supposed to do without you? When all that'll be left is this hole?'

'You will have to.'

'I can't.'

Ben tried to push her again but he was far too weak. He felt his own tears cloud his vision and he pushed his pain away, feeling for Rey, knowing that it was her fingers pressed against his bleeding wound, that her tears were hitting his cheek.

Even though he could feel her pain from her own injuries, she pushed through it and bled her love and comfort into him.

He couldn't reject it, he could only take it in and feel her around him. At least if he died, he could die in Rey's arms.

It was dark for Ben then and Rey did not have the opportunity to think about her next moves as she looked about the blood-drenched room. Outside of the room it must have felt like nothing had changed, that inside still contained Snoke, his disciple and the Knights of Ren. Rey knew she had to take this opportunity to get out and attract as little attention as possible. She put her Lightsaber away then, ripping at her cloak to tie off Ben's wounds, compressing the hole in his stomach and she stood, though on shaky legs.

Rey lifted Ben, utilising the Force to help her and she pulled him with his arm around her shoulder as best as she could. Closing her eyes, she tried to clear her mind, pushing away both her and Ben's pain so that she could find an exit. Sensing a way out, Rey moved towards Snoke's throne, pulling Ben with her. Rey's hand drifted against the wall behind it and where part of it felt warmer, she pushed and a small door swung open. She pulled Ben through the dark and empty hallway, hoping it led to Snoke's private quarters or command centre.

Ben murmured something, whether he was conscious or not Rey was unsure, but she felt what he wanted to say. He wanted her to get rid of the base.

'Ben, you have to wake up, you have to tell me where to go.' Rey said hurriedly, her voice as low as possible. Her hand touched his face again and it was cold and damp, though Ben's eyes opened.

He grit his teeth together before signalling to a left-hand path with his head. Rey followed his line of sight, tightening her hold on him. 'You have to…' he struggled and his eyes held tightly. 'The command room…there is a procedure.'

Rey nodded and tried to go faster, putting all her energy into making Ben lighter as she moved through the darkened passage. It was a few minutes before they reached a metal security door and Ben managed to lift his hand to the biometric palmprint panel and the pneumatic doors opened.

The room was filled with Stormtroopers and they looked to the two of them with confusion, before they reached for their weapons, seeing Ben so severely injured and assuming Rey was their enemy. Rey couldn't bare killing them, however and she found herself using the Force to convince them all to go elsewhere. They left through what seemed to be the main door and Rey pulled Ben towards a panel, looking over the dials and buttons.

'Type in protocol Nexu and access code 59482AU12,' Ben managed, his voice tightening. When Rey had done so, he lifted his hand from his side, attempting to wipe the blood from it on his cloak and he placed it on the screen. 'Lean me forward.' Rey followed his instruction and a small sensor scanned his retina.

There were no alarms, however a 20-minute countdown began on the panel screens. Rey supported Ben again and led him back through the passageway and he murmured directions as they went, Rey particularly wary of how much time they had left. Ben grew heavier as they walked and Rey knew he would not be conscious for much longer, so she tried to speed up again.

It was ten minutes before they reached a small hanger bay that held a small command ship. Rey was drenched with sweat and blood, her body wanting to give up on her. At this point, Ben went fully unconscious and he could not be roused again. Rey used what energy she had left to lift him into the ship and strap him down, as she looked at the control panels, very aware that she had little time to consider their escape.

Strapping herself in, she powered up the ship and gripped onto the controls, glancing at Ben and feeling the discomfort in her chest grow again. It was a few more buttons to get the hanger doors open and they took off, Rey putting everything into the thrusters.

Rey couldn't breathe until they were in the atmosphere, minutes before the base went up in flames and she was thankful that there were no TIE fighters preparing to knock them out of the atmosphere. Regardless of the motivations of the Knights, they had been right considering the Cantonica base as incredibly secretive. Snoke must have considered himself safe enough with the Knights of Ren around to protect him.

Looking back at Ben, Rey held onto his hand as she began typing in instructions, hoping to feed what remained of her strength into him. She then selected a route towards the only planet and place she could think. Jakku.


Twas a long one. Hehe. There aren't many more chapters left by the way, readers. Got to finish before December ;)

Thanks for reading xx