It was the first time Ben had physically seen his father in seven years. The last time had been a year before he decided to submit to the Dark Side. Before he had destroyed his innocence and exacted vengeance on all the students at Luke's academy. Ben had been conversing with Snoke regularly and it wasn't soon after he'd accepted the mantle as Kylo Ren.
Things had changed about Han Solo. His face had aged drastically since they had last seen each other. Wrinkles had appeared on his forehead and his hair had fully grayed. There was a look of nostalgia, pain and desperation that sparkled in his father's eyes – it injured Ben to see it. He had been anxiously awaiting this moment for years, the moment when they would face each other. When they had to look each other in the eyes and own up to their mistakes. Ben had been a stubborn son, and Han hadn't been the best father – but maybe they had been the best they could be under the circumstances. That's at least what Ben had considered during his long time of reflection, his many years of reflection to be exact.
As Kylo's gaze glazed around his father's face he noticed that some things had remained the same. His father's upper lip was still quirked up like a sly little smirk, even with that look of shock that was plastered on his face. In old age his dad still had that scruffy look to him, like he was that back alley brawler who could swindle a beggar out of their money.
"Ben." His father repeated, as if saying his name again would illicit an immediate response. Instead Kylo remained silent, part of him was enjoying the dread his father was displayed. His father paced toward him with short strides as if he was trying to bide his time to think of some way to mend things. Things between them had been broken for years, not even Kylo was sure things could be fixed, at least not with simple pleasantries.
"I've been waiting a long time for this," Kylo finally replied ending a short amount of suspense. "Patiently hoping that you would have something better to say after everything that's happened."
His dad squared himself directly in Kylo's face. It was odd how short his father seemed compared to him. Ben should have known sooner that he was like someone else, someone like his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker – tall, dark-haired, strong with the Force.
"Take off that mask, you don't need it, Ben," Han said it in the most commanding tone he could muster.
"What do you think you'll see? A ruthless monster, a power-hungry Jedi Killer, a kid you taught to fight and pilot ships, a hurt boy who need someone to look up to–."
"I'll see the face of my son. The son I should have been there for when he needed me most," Han uttered, his voice soft and gentle. Timidly, his father reached up and grasped his shoulder.
Sure enough the annoying trooper that Rey called a friend had to shout in surprise. "What? This is your son, Solo? You decided to leave that detail out, that your son is the psychopathic Dark Lord of the First Order."
His father shot Finn a gaze that was nothing short of murderous. Finn was quiet, but Kylo knew it wouldn't be for long. Ren found the former Stormtrooper insufferable already, he wasn't certain how he would bear being around the man with Rey.
Kylo had seen the way Finn looked at Rey, as if she was his hero. That even in Finn's failure attempt of a rescue mission, the person who was being saved was him, like Rey had redeemed him by just being in her presence. Finn was probably just trying to put his guilty conscience to rest, but he'd been the one who had abandoned his best friend. Kylo wanted to judge Finn harsher, but he knew he couldn't. Currently Ben was branding himself a traitor to the First Order. He had killed a lot of people and if this was truly a trial he'd be one of the first to be branded as the galaxy's scion of pure evil.
"Ben," Han called Kylo's attention back with his sheer will. "Take off the mask," his father iterated again.
"I can't," Kylo replied. "Not until my mission is over, I need to stop the First Order from destroying D'Qar. I can use my identity as Kylo Ren to keep you all safe, for now. Just let me shut down the shields."
"Does that mean you're coming home," the old smuggler asked in that low, gravelly octave that told Ben his father was holding in his relief. "You're mother and I miss you."
"I'm coming home," Ben replied. He was happy that his mask was still on. Kylo didn't want to give his father the satisfaction of seeing a genuine smile on his face. Well, he didn't want his father to have that satisfaction just yet.
For the first time in years Ben saw his father give him a joyous, sideways grin. "Alright, son. I trust you," he said softly and stepped aside allowing him to get access to the control panel. Ben could feel waves of bliss washing over his father, it was nearly contagious. Ben had to repress his father's own feeling and focus on the task at hand.
Finn was standing in front of the large console. Kylo approached slowly his steps were loud as his boots hit the floor. Even as Ren was standing, waiting to release the shields Finn refused to move.
"I need to shut down the shields," Kylo uttered beneath his mask. "You need to move," he tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible.
Finn stood like a statue, as if he was an unmovable force. A look of mistrust burned within the ex-trooper's gaze. He had been part of the First Order, so Finn was acutely aware of his reign in the First Order. Gaining his trust would be near impossible, especially if he kept looking at Rey as if he was obsessed with her.
"Kid, you can move," Han cut in. Chewie even gave out a roar of approval. Still Finn stood there, his eyes narrowing.
Finally Rey stepped in. "Finn, please. Give Kylo a chance to prove his loyalty. I allowed you the same opportunity." It seemed that only Rey's voice was the words of wisdom Finn chose to listen to. He allowed Rey to guide him away from the console.
Ben sat down and typed in as many security codes as he could muster. First he made sure to remove the shields as this was the only place you could access the shields, it was impossible remotely. He felt Rey plant her hand on his shoulder as he went about his work – the pride was almost pulsing through her fingertips.
Without any words, Ben locked the bridge's control to the firing mechanism. He spliced the code requiring a correct pin to access the Superweapon itself.
"Nice job," Rey murmured. "It seems I'm not the only one who's tech savvy around here." She gave him a beguiling smile.
"I learned basic First Order coding when I arrived. I never thought it would be handy until now," he replied to Rey. Kylo stood up, and took his place next to Chewie and Han. Everyone seemed to be staring at him as if they were waiting for his next move.
Ben clear his throat loudly. "Where's the Falcon," Kylo questioned. "I assume we are leaving on that."
Kylo had never been on the Millennium Falcon before. His whole childhood his father had been searching for the ship, as if it was his lost child. Han had always talked so highly of the cargo ship, as if it was an extension of himself, as if that ship was his true home. Ben was looking forward to actually getting to see this legendary masterpiece with his own eyes.
His father gave him a tenacious grin. "Yeah, but you're not going to like where we parked it."
They were charging across the frozen ground, with every step the snow crunched beneath him. But the sound of walking on snow paled in comparison to the explosions and fire fighting that was raging on above them. It was raining ship parts as chunks of metal flew from the sky and crashed violently against the ground. Snow and wind was whipping them in the face as his father stopped them for a second. Kylo's fingers were become numb as the cold winds ripped away at his gloves and skin.
"The Resistance needs our help otherwise all the pilots will be dead before they break through and destroy the base," his father was yelling over the howling wind.
"Poe's up there, we have to help them," Finn responded in a booming voice that carried over the wind.
Kylo did remember the best Resistance pilot in the fleet, Poe Dameron. It was a shame the first time they had met was in an interrogation cell. Ren was certain there would be no way to win Poe over, that man would despise him for the things he'd done, specifically breaking his mind.
As a group they collectively changed their trajectory toward the Precinct 47 that was the base's thermal oscillator. They already knew it was the weak spot of the base and the First Order had put a lot of defense up to protect it. Ground-stationed guns provided ground support while TIE Fighter's were the sweeping air support. Kylo knew without help the Resistance pilot's would be dead shortly.
They entered the Precinct together – it was dark and only a few streams of natural light were making it through as the sun's power disappeared. The place was like a giant empty, vast drum, hollow but strong. It had levels that seemed to climb up like a coliseum. As they walked farther on the metal grates it was like walking into an earthquake. The Resistance's ships were relentless in their attacks, for the ground refused to sit perfectly still.
Right away Han split them into groups. His father seemed to noticed the way he was clinging to Rey, as if he was a child who would be lost without a mother.
Han decided to take Finn and Chewie to the upper floors, while Kylo and Rey were to plant the bombs on the ground level and distribute them around the whole floor. He fell in step with Rey as they started planting the bombs on any metal object that allowed it.
"You're friend Finn doesn't trust me," Kylo noted in a mellow tone.
Rey was kneeling on the metal floor but she looked up at him. "He was part of the First Order, he probably knows what you're capable of. And he knows about the crimes you've committed I'm sure. He'll warm up to you," Rey reassured him.
"I doubt he will," Kylo murmured as he handed Rey one of the explosive. "Even my father is still leery around me, and your friend Finn will resist trusting me as long as possible."
Rey stood up, this time she turned to face Ben. There was a sparkle of understanding floating in her gaze as she put her hand on his shoulder. Kylo felt her fingers graze down his arm before Rey grabbed his hand tightly.
"Be patient Ben, things will heal in time. All you have to do is give them reason to trust you, prove to them you have unwavering loyalty. It will take time, but that is the price to pay." Rey awarded him a genuine smile. "Now let's get these bombs placed so we can go home."
Rey turned away instantly absorbing herself in the task at hand. Kylo was about to join her when he felt a pair of eyes lingering on him, he looked up toward the upper loft to see Finn staring down at him. Flickers of suspicion and loathing passed through Ben's head as if he was reading Finn's mind.
Memories of screaming, darkness, fire, blood, rushed inside Kylo's brain. He was hovering over a dead man, blood was streaming from his fingers, as he grasped the trooper's arm. The crimson stood out against the white of the troopers uniform, but the man was limp – too heavy for him to lift.
Villagers were panicking, running away as they were shot in the back. Some were begging for mercy, crying as they held their children in their arms. It mattered not, they were all mowed down, slaughtered as if they were livestock. Flames consumed homes, the very livelihood of these poor, innocent beings who were just clinging onto life.
Kylo looked up to see a figure was turned around watching him, a figure in dark robes and a mask. The orange of the flames blazed off the metallic portion of the mask, but the black of his mask was free of any reflective light. Kylo felt his heart start to beat wildly in his chest because he was staring back at himself. It was like he was staring at the hidden face of an emotionally devoid beast.
Another memory was beginning to formulate in his mind, another one of himself. It was dark, the only light were the dancing flames of the burning villages. Ben watched as Kylo Ren was crouching over an old man. They were chatting unfortunately he was too far away – he couldn't make out what they were saying but he could see the tension locked between them. In a flash of red, Kylo Ren raised his lightsaber and slashed it right through the old man. He watched as the elderly man's head rolled across the ground and settled in the sand.
Cold-blooded killer. The words rang like a war cry in his mind. He can't be forgiven. He can't be trusted. Those phrases were weaving their way right into his very soul. Kylo could feel his shoulder's bowing under the insults running through Finn's mind. He's a monster. Ben wanted it to stop, his brain was aching but he couldn't allow himself to be broken. No, not now, he wasn't going to allow Finn's feelings defeat him.
"Kylo, are you okay?" Rey snapped him from Finn's thoughts. Ben was glad for the distraction, if he'd had to relive that memory again his sanity might have been stolen for him. The ground shook as the bombers had probably landed another round of blasts on the Precinct.
"I'm fine," he replied as he turned away from Finn. Ren knew Finn was still staring down at him, but he didn't think he could acknowledge another memory, especially not one as vivid as the last. It was a blessing his mask was still on, he was sure Finn would have seen the pain playing upon his face.
Kylo nodded, again he went back to following Rey, he handed her the magnet explosives and they were near done now. As they placed the last bombs into position, Han, Chewie and Finn joined them down below.
"Let's get the hell out of here so we can blow this place up," Han said hastily. Chewie let out a noise of approval. They headed toward the exit when footsteps started to bounce off the walls and the walkways filled up with Stormtroopers. Their blasters were up, but they weren't firing yet which was surprising.
"You didn't think you'd be escaping so easily," a voice resonated off the cold, metal interior.
"Get behind me," Kylo pulled Rey so she was pressed against his back and no longer in the line of fire. The soldiers had surrounded them, Ren was preparing to pull his lightsaber to his hand using Force. Even behind him, Ben could feel that Rey had pulled out her blaster and was ready to fire. Chewie, Finn and Han were prepared to jump behind one of the metal pipes that ran vertically allow the whole Precinct.
They all watched in suspense as a woman in the most metallic armor came out and started to wander toward them. Her statue was very proud and confident as if she had just struck the jackpot.
"Captain Phasma," Kylo Ren yelled, his own synthetic voice was straining to be heard. "This doesn't have to come to bloodshed."
"I disagree, Lord Ren. Or should I say, Ben Solo, now that you are fraternizing with the enemy. I knew that girl was going to turn you, me and Hux both were certain of it," Phasma said regally. "But now with you gone there will be more power for me and Hux."
The chances of negotiation were slipping through his fingers like sand. There was no way Phasma was going to listen to what he had to say now. They were going to have to settle this in a clash of strength and skill.
"You ready," his father whispered to all of them.
"Always," Ben hissed through gritted teeth. His lightsaber flew into his hand and he blocked two blaster shots.
[A/N]: Hey guys, sorry for the late update. I'm preparing for the semester to end which means final projects and exams, so bear with me for another week. Once summer starts I hope I'll have a little more time to write. :) I also hope you guys all enjoyed the new chapter with the reunion of Han and Ben. Please tell me what you thought of this chapter, I really would like some honest feedback of this section of the story since this is a transition of roles for Kylo Ren.
I just wanted to give a special thanks to megumisakura, bhut, Sabrino21, Mistress 0f Dragons, Stephycats7785, SaintsFan1, firerosedreamer67, gabysweet10, fabercastel, DaniLV, DiamondSapphire, Nila, LovetheKlaroline,waterlily91, Girlwith100names, xxbubbiixx, Kawiiacake22, , sailorhathor, Lucy, Solangelo Lover 292, PattSkywalker, StarWarsFan, tacker23, Lleblanc3, LadyRedStar, kat, AudreyBinx, SaskeIsReading, mushidoll and all you other guests who have been kind enough to review and give me your feelings and thoughts of the story.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Next chapter there will be a battle, possibly character(s) deaths and maybe an escape – we'll see. ;) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, may the Force be with you! :)