A/N: Hey hey. So for the sake of argument, let's just say that Palpatine was never resurrected. This is AU after all. So I'm going to set the stage for you: Palpatine was never existing on Exegol. The Knights of Ren will be dealt with later. Hux was eliminated already. Those that are with the First Order are Empire sympathizers and the like. Just wanted to clear that up with you so this doesn't seem like "What about this and that?!" This is AU; we're rewriting things a little for the sake of the story. Now then. Onto the supposedly last chapter that won't actually be the last chapter lol I'm running out of L words, yall.
Lost
Chapter 9: Lingering Luminescence
In the end, Ben ended up staying a few more days on Leia's base. Up till two days ago when they had their talk, Ben had been staying on Leia's ship out of fear that the rest of the base would cause an uproar. He stayed in the medbay until he was able to walk around freely. As it stood, they were staying in Rey's room. He had to admit that it wasn't too bad. He could've given her better on his ship, but he also realized it wouldn't have really been better at all for either of them. They'd live in constant fear of being found out and overthrown. They'd have to worry about Hux and his followers using one or the other to exploit them in some way to get his way. Not to mention the power vacuum... Ben was fortunate he left when he did because he was starting to notice how officers who were loyal to Hux and Snoke were looking at him. They would have killed him at any given moment had he let his guard down for even a second.
No, things were better now. The First Order was gone. The Resistance was working on mending the damage done. Ben had met with Leia in private to discuss with her what he had done with the First Order. He'd also disclosed to her the locations of all the hidden bases so they could either keep an eye on them or go take them out. Ultimately, she decided it best to leave that decision up to Ben. He didn't particularly like that, but at least he had a chance to tell the people to leave or die. They had a choice. And that's what the Resistance was built on: a choice. A choice to defy the First Order and the darkside. A choice to obtain true peace. A choice for everyone to choose what they want to do, rather than being told what to do. He'd wished he had a choice...
In any case, he'd decided to pay the respective bases a visit alongside Rey and give them the option to disband or cancel their life subscription. He'd hoped, for his sake and for Rey's sake, that they chose the former. But time would tell. He knew he didn't need to do it alone. However, he also recognized that he couldn't put Rey in the position to be at his side when he spoke with them. Especially seeing as they all saw her as the enemy. No, he had to face them alone, and then if need be, he'd call her in for reinforcements. But he didn't want it to get that bad.
As it stood, he knew of three bases in particular. The rest had already been disbanded. The others that didn't want to disband joined a different base. Apparently, the soldiers he'd released had started to spread the word and there were more and more leaving the bases. Now, all that remained were hostiles. It was going to be near impossible to get the remaining ones to choose to leave peacefully. And even then, could he trust them to do so and not cause an uprising later? He sighed as he looked down at the galaxy map. He'd circled the locations of the bases. He knew each one heading up the bases as well. He knew that they wouldn't give up without a fight. He knew of blockades and occupations. All of this knowledge was eating him up. It was a long fight before they could truly be free. He ran his hands through his hair as he glared down at the maps. Red symbolized bases. Green were occupations. Blue were blockades. He'd marked it out for them. He'd leave the blockades and occupations to the Resistance. He'd manage the bases.
He silently wondered how he'd come to join the Resistance in the first place, but quickly dismissed it. He was no better than the defector now known as Finn. He frowned at that. No, he couldn't think about that. Finn was a coward. Ben left the First Order because he truly saw what they were doing was wrong. He'd been on the wrong side all these years. He'd allowed his mind to be twisted and molded into whatever Snoke wanted him to believe. He was so naive. How could he allow a scarred, prune of a man to control him like that?
Because he didn't have his light.
Now, he saw through the darkness because he had found his light. He twirled his saber in his hands, hating it even more as he stared at it. He really needed a new one... He sighed as he clipped it back on his hip and glanced over at his mother, who was speaking with Poe, Finn and Rey and organizing teams to go take out the blockades and occupations. He looked down at the device in his hand. He'd made a broadcast not too long ago from his ship. He had told every First Order base, occupation, blockade and the like to stand down and disband. That those that were resistant to his instructions would be dealt with severely. The fight was over and they were all free to go back home to their families if they so chose. However, the First Order was no longer in existence. There was no future for the First Order. All leadership that could possibly rise up were labeled as threats and bounties were issued for them.
"Ben?" His eyes lifted up to the source of the voice and he saw Rey standing in front of him. He sat back quietly. "Are you ok?"
How could he answer that? It wasn't that he was regretting his actions. Just that he was ready to be done fighting. He wanted to leave with her and never come back to either side. He was ready to start a new life. A new life free from the Resistance and First Order. Free from the jedi and the sith. Her hand on his cheek lifted his face back to hers that he didn't realize dropped in his thoughts. He hesitantly held her hand on his face as he sighed. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine... and your emotions are all over the place..."
Ben sighed heavily at that. "I want to leave."
She took a seat next to him then, opting for holding his hand instead. "I know. I do, too. I could talk to Leia and have her-"
"No. I have to finish what I started." Rey remained silent at his side. He could feel her through the connection and he knew that she didn't want to do this either. He knew that the both of them were over the fighting. They just wanted to disappear and let whatever would happen, happen. But he also couldn't, in good conscience, leave the First Order remnants to exist. If he did, there would be a greater chance of an uprising and there would be more war and problems. He couldn't allow that. No, if he started something, he had to make sure he finished it. "It's only three bases. We should be done in a few weeks. And then..."
Rey smiled softly. "We're free." Ben looked over at her and echoed her words. He sensed eyes on him and narrowed his sight at Poe and Finn. Poe was glaring at him, still not trusting him. Ben didn't give a flying crap if Poe trusted him or not. Rey trusted him and Leia trusted him; that's all that mattered. Rey followed Ben's glare and sighed as she cleared her throat. "Something you want to say, Poe? Finn?"
Poe rolled his eyes. "There's plenty I want to say-"
"But! He won't," Finn interjected, giving him a small punch to the arm.
Poe's glare intensified at Ben, but he ultimately broke away first. Rey sighed and shook her head, returning her sight back to Ben. If he had feathers, they'd be ruffled right now. He pulled his face to hers and planted a soft kiss to his lips for a brief moment. When she pulled away, his sight was focused on her again. She gave him a small grin. "Poe will come around. Don't worry about him."
Ben huffed and stood up, Rey quick to follow. "We need to prepare to leave for the first base. I think we should-"
Before he could finish his statement, Poe walked past and jerked his shoulder against Ben's in an act of defiance. Ben mentally growled in his mind, and used the force to make Poe trip, smacking his face on some pipes. The pilot cursed loud as he glared at Ben, who was smirking at him over his shoulder. "Watch your step, Dameron. It appears you're incredibly clumsy," he said, earning a growl and glare from Poe. Finn didn't know what to make of the situation. Rey giggled quietly, hiding it behind a cough as Ben grabbed her hand and led her off. She glanced behind them and grinned at Poe.
When they were out of earshot, Rey full on laughed. "The look on his face was priceless. But you really should learn to control your temper."
Ben rolled his eyes. "I'll control my temper when he stops being ridiculous." Rey rolled her eyes with a small smirk. "So, never."
She laughed and playfully punched his arm. "Stop it." Ben rounded on her and pinned her against the wall, his dark eyes shining with mischief. "Ben-"
"He started it; I just ended it. Much like you did two days ago." Rey blushed profusely, looking away shyly. He chuckled softly, a sound only meant for her as he laid a soft kiss to her cheek. "That was a joke," he whispered before releasing her. Rey's heart fluttered in her chest as she thought about the medbay incident. She'd stopped him out of sheer embarrassment. She knew he understood though. She wasn't ready to have a physical relationship with him yet. And he respected that. But that didn't mean he wouldn't tease her in the process. "Are you coming?" he called behind him, breaking her from her reverie. She slapped her cheeks and ran to catch up with him, hand sliding effortlessly into his as they walked down the halls of the Resistance base.
X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X
They arrived at the first base. She didn't remember the name of the planet, but she sensed a strong connection to the dark side here. It made her queasy and uneasy to say the least. She stayed in the ship, just as Ben had told her to, but she still had a bad feeling about this place. She cautiously watched as Ben, clad in Kylo Ren's mask, lethally approached the troopers standing watch at the base. He stopped when they pointed their guns at him. She wished she could hear how the conversation was going, but she didn't want to risk distracting him, so she didn't bother to reach out. All she could do was sit silently, watching the situation unfold as the troopers quickly lowered their guns and stood at attention to Ben passing by. They followed after him and that was all she saw of them. Her nerves started to get even more irritated as the time ticked on. She wondered how he was making out...
She didn't have to wait long because there were many many troopers leaving base, shedding their helmets and dropping their guns. Her eyes widened as she saw the smiles on their faces. He'd released them. He'd let them go. They all got into a transport and shed their armor as it started to take off. Tears came to her eyes as she realized that he didn't really want to kill anyone. He'd truly changed. She knew it was only a matter of time before it showed, but it was showing now. And she couldn't be more proud of him.
That pride quickly dissipated as she felt a snag on the bond between them. The figurative line that connected them, previously loose, was now taught like a drum. It pricked her senses as she remained on edge, expecting him to call out to her at any given moment. She nervously chewed at the inside of her cheek, sitting on the edge of her seat as she scanned the opening of the base and any windows that were there for any signs of movement. She frowned as she saw flashes of light. Were those... shots? Or was that his saber? "Rey! Now!" he called through their connection.
No sooner had she heard his voice did she spring out of the ship, dashing towards the entrance of the base. She tethered herself to him through their bond, seeing through his eyes for a brief moment as he mentally showed her the way. She dashed through the corridors, some stray troopers running past her. "No one else escapes!" he commanded. She skidded to a halt as she lit her saber and quickly struck down the troopers behind her. She frowned at the blood that splattered on her robe before she quickly brushed it aside and continued running. More troopers ran to her and she sliced them down as well without a second thought. Her conscience was bothering her at the moment, but she knew that if the rest of the people were to survive, it had to be this way. He'd given them all a chance to leave, and those that chose to stay... were resistant to change. And it had cost them their lives. Such was the way with war.
She finally made it to the second level of the base, panting heavily as she watched him fighting... no... dancing with his saber in combat. Bodies lay at his feet, his helmet long forgotten at the entrance of the room. She watched as his dark hair moved, his face steely cold as he concentrated on his very movements. It was like watching a skilled dancer. The breath left her lungs as he dodged and darted around the room. It was only when he landed that their eyes locked for a brief moment. A small Solo grin made its way onto his lips. "Broadcasting." Her cheeks turned red as she grinned and rushed to his side. Back to back, they fought off the remaining troopers and officers. Their movements were in complete harmony as she flipped over his back, slashing above, and he slashed below while balancing her until she landed. The pure rhythm of their movements were enough to show how close they'd grown over time.
One could even say that they'd win this fight even holding hands.
Rey let a trooper slip past her, a shot fired at Ben's back. She knew he was preoccupied so she used the force to redirect it to the trooper's face in front of Ben. Ben didn't have to look to know what had happened. He only smirked as he spun around her to block a shot aimed at her, his arm around her waist as a protection, the shot bouncing off of his saber and back at the trooper's body. He looked down at her with a smirk, her eyes meeting his as the world burned around them. It was a moment the two shared that only they would understand. Thoughts and emotions swirled in their bond as his touch lingered even though he'd long since let go of her. They were back at fighting off executioners now.
She ducked and dodged as her executioner swung at her, grunting in irritation for spending that much energy to do so and only missing as a result. She deflected another hit with her saber, but the third swing he made, she force pushed him away. She still felt his hand on her body as she glanced over at him to see him already looking at her. He didn't even mind getting caught. He only grinned that grin at her that made her weak in the knees. He approached her, her executioner in his peripheral as much as his was in hers. He wrapped his free hand around her waist again, her free hand on his arm. "You're distracting me," he said to her with a mischievous grin. His words were so intimate. His touch was so warm. She could practically see the light pouring off of him as all the darkness within him was all but eliminated. She didn't know what to say to him as she simply stared up at him. She reached her hand up to his face with a smirk before they both suddenly broke, grabbing their executioners and slamming them against each other in perfect synchrony. When they fell to the ground, it was only then that Rey realized their hands met, fingers entwined as if it were only natural it happened. And who knew? Maybe it was.
Her eyes drifted from their hands to his face. He stared down at her, his dark eyes burning with the intensity of a thousand suns. It almost took her breath away. She knew he wanted her. And she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel the same. She heard his saber power down as he quickly, but fluidly, clipped his saber to his belt. Then his hand was on her cheek. She'd barely noticed that they were still standing with their sabers in hand. His large hand caressed her cheek, cupping her face as he leaned forward and kissed her softly. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum signaling the army marching into battle. She felt his hand guiding hers around his neck and he released her hand, opting to wrap his now free hand around her waist and pull her close against him. It was only a few moments after that that they pulled away, both breathless though she didn't know if it was because of the fight or the kiss. And she didn't really care. "We should go..." she said softly, her own hand buried in his dark hair. Her mind was racing as to their intimacy. When had it become like this? Would it now forever be this way? Or was it just in the moment?
Once she caught her breath, she caught her senses and kissed him one last time before breaking all contact completely. She powered down her saber and clipped it to her belt as well. "Rey." Her eyes went over to him, brow furrowed as she was trying to process the look on his face. It was one of uncertainty, but also one of resolve. How this man managed to capture both ends of the spectrum in one look, she had no idea. As she looked at his face longer, she sensed uneasiness start to seep through their bond. She became concerned the longer they were in silence. Then, he let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "Nevermind. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and led her off out of the base and back to his ship. When he sat down in the chair, she hesitantly sat in his lap as they had before they left Leia's base. It felt different now. Somehow. It wasn't uncomfortable, but more... real... Like this was what they'd both meant to be all along. As their eyes met, she gave him a small smile and kissed his jaw, leaning in as the door closed. He set the autopilot for Leia's base.
Once the ship took off and they were out of the orbit of that planet, he leaned back and sighed heavily, eyes closed as he let his arms wrap weakly around her waist. She looked down at him with a small soft smile. He was so exhausted. Before she knew it, he was completely out. His face, normally full of worry and concern, calculating every single move he had to make while conscious, was now completely at rest and calm, not a care in the world as he slept peacefully with her in his arms. She smiled softly at him as she rested her head on his shoulder, face buried in his neck. She held his hand around her waist and closed her eyes, letting out one last sigh as she too drifted off into sleep.