I don't own Star Wars
Please leave feedback
Chapter 19
Han's heart still raced as he entered the hut. "What were you thinking?" He yelled at Luke.
"He needed to let the anger out. He's so very angry still. I fear for Ben." Luke continued, "he has too much passion inside of him; his emotions could be the end of us all."
Han paced, "why did you agree to come here?" He was sure that Leia was mistaken but she had won him over with her reasoning just like last time.
"I needed to see Leia and you for one last time. My time to join the Force nears." He said in a calm voice.
"You have to help Ben. Snoke has gained so much power. The galaxy needs the Jedi." Leia said in a pleading voice.
"My time is over. The Jedi Order is no more." He replied calmly. "It ended that night when Ben turned." He said sadly.
"There's goodness in him. He is back with us Luke. Ben needs to find his way in all of this." Leia explained.
Luke sighed, "his power is too raw, too sentient Leia. I was afraid for him and of him. The things that he's done. The things he can do are frightening."
Han had enough of talk. "Our son found his way back to us. I will not hear any more of this. I should have never let him go with you. It is my biggest regret that I did." He finally spat; a part of him always blamed Luke. He'd been jealous that Luke got to be such an important part of Ben's life while he was alienated and relegated to visitor and spectator in his son's life.
Luke was impossibly impassive when he nodded, "perhaps it was. I thought I could save him form darkness. I was Jedi Master Skywalker; my destiny was to save the galaxy and I did. I watched over Ben since you brought him to me. I saw him struggle with darkness. He complained of the voices every night and asked for you Han. He said you would make it feel better." Han clenched his fists. Luke was sadistic and cold in his approach to all of this.
"He learned; Ben concentrated and mastered the Jedi texts. He excelled in practice and meditation but his heart turned once again. He became obsessed with Darth Vader and his supposed legacy. I suspected a change of heart and went to his hut that night. For a second I thought I could stop it all before he destroyed all I loved. I trained my lightsaber on him. I faltered, I could not kill my nephew." Luke confessed.
Han had enough. "You. We trusted you." Leia had tears on her eyes. "Let him finish Han."
Luke had a faraway look, "Ben woke up and I saw the eyes of a betrayed boy. He reacted. That night was my fault. I remember waking up to the temple burning."
Leia cried openly. "It was your fault. You created Kylo Ren." Han roared. "How could you? Your own blood?" He yelled.
"It is done now." Luke replied simply.
Leia looked at her brother with hurt eyes. "That was why he refused to see you. He's so angry at you."
Han could not look at his brother in law. It was a good thing that Chewie entered the hut. The Wookie growled softly. Han's insides turned cold, "Ben and Rey took the Falcon."
"They're going to face Snoke." Luke said with a small smile.
"We need a ship. Chewie can track the Falcon." Han ran out the hut and found Luke's ship. It would have to do. Leia followed him. "I'm going with you."
Luke stayed back. "I will not see you again." He said. Leia turned back and hugged his brother. Han hung back. He nodded at Luke. Han would not hug him or forgive him for what he did. He trusted Luke to take care of his kid and he failed.
Han, Chewie and Leia boarded the small craft. Han and Chewie plotted the course and followed the Falcon to toward the Roseo system.
Leia looked somber but certain, "we need to send a message to the resistance. We need their fighter pilots and bombers."
Han nodded, "Send it. Let them know." He was focused on getting Ben out of this alive.
They were in front of Snoke's ship. Han felt bile rise up his throat. Leia looked anguished. "He's here."
Soon there were other ships. The resistance surrounded the ship. The First Order attacked them and they attacked back. "We need to get into that base. We need to find Ben." Han said as they avoided resistance and first order fighters.
Han managed to get them inside the bigger ship. He helped Leia outside of the craft and hurried her along the hallways. He and Chewie blasted some Stormtroopers. Leia got her hands on another blaster and they tried to navigate the mess of doors into something that could be worthwhile. They followed Leia who could feel Ben. Soon they were looking down, there a floor below them were Ben and Rey engaged kneeling in front of Snoke.
"This is your last chance Kylo. Give me Skywalker and all will be forgiven. You will have the girl as your empress if you so wish. Your bloodline will be great, your children will rule the galaxy after you and your young empress. All will be forgiven. Your parents will be granted mercy. They will live out their days in exile." The monster wheedled.
Han's heart almost gave up when Ben lowered his head and looked up. He offered him Rey's lightsaber and then offered his. Rey was suspended in the air as Snoke tortured her. Chewie whined lowly. Ben's eyes were lowered.
"Ben, please don't do this!" Rey yelled.
"Silly, little girl. Did you not see. He is darkness; his soul has been mine since he was six years old." Snoke continued.
"You will kill this girl Ren." The monster continued. Ben still kneeled and ignited his lightsaber. Rey shrieked and then dropped to the floor.
"Do it. Kill your true enemy." Snoke said.
"Ben." Rey said in a soft voice.
Han and Leia were transfixed when Ben came close to her and caressed her face. "Stand by me." He said and then waved his hand.
Han thought that his son would ignite the saber to kill the girl. He was prepared to see his son murder in front of his eyes but then his boy surprised him. The lightsaber by Snoke's side ignited. Snoke's upper half was on the floor.
Leia gasped by his side. The praetorian guard circled Rey and Ben. They fought side by side. "Come on Sweetheart. We have to help them." Han smiled and ushered a confused Leia.
Han blasted two red guards. Ben and Rey fought back to back. It was a dance. They complemented each other to a fault. There were more First Order men coming in front the doors.
Ben choked some of the Stormtroopers; the others fled the room. "We have to leave now. The resistance will blow this ship very soon."
Ben nodded and grabbed Rey. They made it to the Hangar before a red headed officer yelled at Ben. "REN."
Ben turned and moved his hand as if to choke the man which he did.
"We have to go." Leia yelled.
"That's Hux. You will have another Empire on your hands if you do not get rid of him." Ben yelled.
Han shot at the man. "We have to leave now." The redhead was on the floor with a blast to the chest.
Leia grabbed his hand and they reached the Falcon.
They were out of range and welcomed into Holdo's ship within twenty minutes.
He hugged Ben hard. "I thought we lost you again. Why did you not wait? I know, we know Ben. I'm so sorry." He said and kissed his forehead many times.
It was Leia's turn then. She hugged their child and then cried into his chest. Ben held her. Han hugged them both again.
Rey was by the side. Han knew what it felt to be left out. "You'll be a fine daughter in law." He said and kissed her cheek. Han hugged her too. Rey blushed. "Thank you."
"We have circled the command ships. The resistance has grown. The men and women of many star systems rebelled when General Hux ordered an increase in the recruits for the Stormtrooper program.
Han nodded and watched as the fighters destroyed the ship. They watched as the other fleets surrounded them and attacked what was left of the core First Order. Ben looked exhausted.
"Come, we have to find you a place to rest." He herded his son and Rey to sleeping quarters. "Rest. You two did well." He said and hugged them both.
News trickled quickly and wildly. The resistance focuses took over entire systems. The inner systems jailed First Order commanders while Stormtroopers deserted left and right. Han sat with Leia as she devised plans and worked with other generals. News came that Chandrila was liberated and so were Yavin and other planets "Where to?" Holdo asked Leia.
His wife looked at him tiredly, "Chandrila." Han nodded and took her to their makeshift sleeping quarters.
They showered together. He helped her undo the braids and realized how old and tired he was.
"Chandrila?" Han asked when they went to bed. He kissed her shoulder and held her to him.
Leia sighed, "I want to go home. It used to be the capital of the New Republic. I should continue to be so."
Han kissed her cheek, "I thought he was going to kill her." She said carefully.
"So did I." He confessed.
Leia shook with sobs, "We are horrible parents."
Han realized she was correct, "we are but we're the only ones he's got."
Leia hugged him. "The next months are going to be hard."
Of course Ben knew. It would be even worse than after Endor. Leia would be knees deep in treaties and Senate meetings. He kissed her once more. "I don't want Ben to leave again." She was scared that their son would alienate them once more.
Han tried to reassure her. "Let's get to Chandrila first. We will have time to think once we've landed home." He slept easy and for a few hours. Leia woke him up with a few kisses. "We will be home in an hour. You need to get up and dress." She said with a small smile. Leia left in a hurry as there was a meeting with the council. They needed to meet with representatives of the different planets to establish a government and the Senate.
Han went about his morning routine and found her seating with Amylin. "Good morning ladies."
He said and sat down to have breakfast. Amylin smiled politely and resumed her conversation. Leia spoke about the new Senate and different rules to bring the Stormtroopers into the fold. First Order commanders would be jailed and tried in the upcoming weeks. "We will re-establish Chandrila as the capital of the New Republic." Leia continued. "We will resume the Senate and the people will elect their representatives."
Poe Dameron came in soon after. He looked freshly showered, "Generals, we have information about First Order ships leaving systems and allying to overthrow the Republic once more."
Leia nodded. Han remembered the euphoria of last time but also all the work that took for them to establish a semblance of peace. He wondered if they were too old for this again. She looked at him in askance. Han had piloted and successfully captured Empire focus points. Years of smuggling afforded him with most of the routes to places.
Han sighed but pecked her lips softly. "Get me R2 and Chewie. I will give you the possible routes. I need your best men, those who did not fight tonight. We need rested men."
Poe nodded and went to look for the men. He had a grin on his face. The young man was excited by the prospect of chasing after The First Order. The kid had no idea what it was like, not yet. He had not truly experienced loss. He may have lost a few friends during the fight but not someone he truly cared about.
"Han are you sure?" Leia asked him when Amylin left to make sure that this flyboy did not screw things for them.
Han looked at the love of his life and nodded. "You are going to lead the Senate." He said plainly.
Leia nodded, "I have to." She looked anxious.
"I will be by your side Leia. I am not leaving." He replied immediately.
"What about Ben? What if he decides to leave?" Leia asked him worriedly.
Han frowned, "Let's hope he decides to stay in Chandrila but if he decides to go I doubt he will want me by his side anymore. He has Rey now."
Leia nodded and squeezed his hand. "I will try to delegate more. I swear Han."
He kissed her hand, "Of course you will Sweetheart."