FINN AND REY

Finn and Rey run back to the battle that they fled, but they're met with eerie silence. When they get to the last bit of forest in their way, they're met with an unusual sight.

Alighted all along the castle ruins are stormtroopers. Han, Chewie, and Maz are knelt in front of the firing line, facing the forest, but Han looks to be the only one concerned, and Chewie? Well, he can't look much of anything.

Kylo is at the front, his back hunched slightly, he has his lightsaber at the ready, but not activated just yet. "I just want the map... and the girl," Kylo states calmly.

"You don't want her! ... You want me! I'm the traitor... I am..." Finn declares with regret.

Kylo ignites his lightsaber, the sunset sky allows the intense beam of light to reflect on the nearby trooper's armor, "You're right. You are."

Rey grabs Finn's wrist to prevent him from charging the dark lord in rashness. "I'll go... just... get the map to-"

"Thank you for reminding me. The map, I'll need that droid too," Kylo demands with an intense edge to his voice.

"How do you know about that?" Finn questions.

"The First Order has allies everywhere; we're saving the galaxy, that tends to put smiles on faces, and faith in hearts." Kylo replies with pride.

"Finn... there's no way out of this... just..." Rey speaks up, but her sentence deflates.

Finn, who feels there really are no other options, ignites the lightsaber, feeling the warmth of the beam as he brings it up to his face in a fighting stance.

Before the confrontation can escalate further, a distant rumble pierces the silence. The ground trembles as Poe Dameron and the Resistance descend upon Takodana.

"Hold on, we're coming in hot!" Poe's voice crackles through the comms as X-wings soar into view, blasters ablaze.

Seizing the distraction, Han, Chewie, and Maz break free, slipping away amidst the tumult.

The sky becomes a canvas of chaos as the Resistance fighters engage the First Order troops. Carpet bombing them is the tactic.

Rain begins to fall, droplets mingle with the sweat on Finn's brow.

Rey spots a cache of discarded blasters nearby. With determination in her eyes, she seizes a blaster and joins the fight against the stormtroopers, providing cover for Finn as he assesses the situation with Kylo.

Finn, still holding the ignited lightsaber, exchanges a determined glance with Rey.

Finn, fueled by desperate courage, approaches Kylo Ren with the ignited lightsaber in hand. Rain continues to cascade.

Kylo turns his attention to Finn. With a mere flick of his wrist, he deflects Finn's initial strikes effortlessly. The clash of lightsabers echoes through the clearing, the rain falling down onto the blades, turning each droplet into a transient burst of light. Raindrops touch Kylo's lightsaber. The blade crackles with energy, a sizzling sound accompanying each collision with the rain-soaked atmosphere.

Finn presses on with everything he has. Each swing of his lightsaber meets with aggressive parries from Kylo, who begins to dismantle Finn's defenses.

"You don't deserve to wield that lightsaber," Kylo spits as he presses his offensive assault on.

In a swift move, Kylo disarms Finn, the lightsaber soaring through the air before landing at Rey's feet, who is busy shooting stormtroopers amidst the chaos.

Kylo, with a mere wave of his hand, freezes Finn in place using the Force. Finn stands motionless, a mere spectator to the unfolding events.

Meanwhile, Rey, engrossed in the chaotic battle, doesn't notice Kylo approaching. With a determined stride, he closes the distance, seizing the moment of distraction. The remaining stormtroopers, following Kylo's command, cover his advance.

Rey, realizing too late, feels a strong presence behind her. She turns, and there stands Kylo Ren, his dark cloak billowing in the rain. "Come with me," he commands, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

Reluctantly, Rey follows Kylo towards his ship, the stormtroopers forming a protective shield around them.

Finn remains frozen, unable to intervene as Kylo, with Rey by his side, boards his ship and disappears into the stormy skies.

With the deafening roar of engines, Kylo Ren's sleek Upsilon lifts off from the rain-soaked battlefield, the thrusters creating a gust of wind that whips through the surrounding trees.

As the ship gains altitude, Finn, still recovering from the Force-induced freeze, watches with desperation in his eyes.

As Kylo and Rey depart, the ten abandoned stormtroopers are left standing amidst the chaotic aftermath of the battle. Resistance forces swiftly move in, capturing the disoriented stormtroopers. Their armor is battered, and their spirits are shaken.

Finn stands there, a soaked, heaving mess.

INSIDE THE MAKESHIFT RESISTANCE camp, the captured stormtroopers are held in restraints, their helmets removed. They are exposed.

"How'd you know they were here?" Poe Dameron questions, he is fitted in his flight suit, the vibrant orange is tinged with grease and oil from the recent battle.

Finn, Chewie, and Han are all standing around the captured stormtroopers, both Finn and Han have an on-edge look to them.

One of the ten troopers speaks up, his long wet hair sticks to his forehead from the sweat, "They don't tell us anything. Beat us, cut off fingers, burn us... Either way, we have nothing for you."

"We don't do that. See we're... we're better than you." One of the Resistance fighters speaks up amongst the circle around the captives.

Poe looks aimlessly around the large tent in frustration, his eyes land on Finn, who is now processing that Poe is actually alive.

Finn steps forward, "Look, you guys tell them what they need to know..." He looks back at the group of Resistance members, their expressions hard, "They'll probably let you go."

"Like I said... we don't know anything... we just follow orders." The wet haired trooper churns up again, "You used to follow orders... traitor."

Finn's expressions darkens. He was a traitor, and despite everything that's happened, he feels guilty, and he feels guilty about feeling guilty. "I tried to help."

Finn walks out of the circle surrounding the captives, he traverses the makeshift campsite, all around him are browncoated people, from all walks of life, their faces are weary but calm. He makes his way to a large tent supported by hydraulic stilts, it bobs and flexes as people enter and exit it. This must be the leaders tent, maybe.

Finn makes his way past the guards, into the tent. He sees Han and Chewie surrounded by a select group... A brauny Trandoshan, with his dark green complextion, a young human woman, fair-skinned with a pixie cut and doe eyes, and a pompous human man with a wompa fur coat.

"Big deal. Why don'cha sit down for a bit? D'Quar is 3 hours out." Han suggests, not even bothering to look Finn's way.

"What? What about Rey? We--"

"In due time." Han reassures, a pang of guild flashes in his eyes.

"Due time!?"

"Due time."

NOTES:

A bit of a short chapter but I have some things saved up for this that I really can't tell in a single chapter, so this is an interlude.

Hope you enjoyed this one, I have lots in store.

As always, please review, favorite, the works... it gives me my serotonin, thanks. :']