-ooo- Escape from Ren, 13 of 13 -ooo-

177 House Galencia Tower – Ext. (Dawn) 177

Finn is flying and perching on various cavities along the surface of Galencia Tower. He focuses on the earring, trying to find something, anything, but there is nothing. Where is she? We don't have time for this.

Finn looks at the downed shields, the smoke coming from the city across the ocean. His eyes follow this to the Emperor's Spire. The throne room with a gaping hole burning along the rim. His face drops. He looks at the earring, back to the spire, back to the earring. Oh no.

Finn jumps off and flies straight to the spire.

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178 Destroyed Imperial Throne – Int. (THE BIG FIGHT) 178

Rey and Cassariot Ren are still out cold under the rubble. The once-proud room is humbled. A third of the room gaped open to a broad view of the away city burning. Floor blackened. The room doesn't even have a throne-chair anymore, blown out by Poe.

Rubble erupts out as an elevator arrives —Kylo inside the cabin, dragging Attorn by the head. Attorn's eyes are rolled back into his skull, his fingers pressing the commands on the elevator. The man is clearly in pain while controlled.

KYLO Thank you, Attorn.

Kylo lifts his hand and the man falls unconscious.

KYLO I will need you as my Emperor's aide.

He puts on his helmet and readies his lightsaber, overlooking the damage. A new throne will need to be made. For the best. He senses Rey still alive but injured and passed out. He takes it this means the Cardinal Knights are dead. Likely by the explosion.

Kylo moves the rubble, exposing Rey. He walks to claim his revenge and the lineal title of Imperial Emperor.

Finn flies in from the opening. He sees Kylo walking to Rey with the lightsaber. Finn's presence interrupts Kylo. Another gift delivered.

KYLO Hello, Traitor.

FINN …what are you doing, Ren?

KYLO She chose your side. I brought her back only for her to betray us. Leave Traitor, return to your rebellion while I amend my mistake.

FINN Never.

KYLO Such loyalty. Futile Loyalty. You have fatally interfered in my family affairs, Traitor. I will allow your life only this last time. Leave.

Finn turns on his lightsaber. He stands defiantly in a forward stance, despite the hopeless match-up. The tension of a duel fills the silence as the sun rises over the burning background city.

KYLO So be it.

The rematch begins.

Kylo holds no respect for Finn. His only possible loss if Rey awakens. Keep it short. Kylo walks without any guard to the weaker Finn, throwing all his weight into his first strike.

Finn —overreacting and panicking— misses the key punishment, settling with blocking until he can make a strategy.

After three swings are parried, Kylo is already done with this fight. Feints another swing, Finn leans in to block, only for Kylo to kick Finn square in the chest. His Force power throwing Finn across the room.

Finn, only panicking more, takes out his Protonium Handgun. He fires at Kylo —but misses to the side. Kylo had swung his lightsaber, expecting to deflect the shot. Even he is disappointed the weaker Jedi failed to even line up a shot right.

Finn makes it to his feet. He lines up his shot correctly now, directly at Kylo's chest. Kylo stays in his position, not advancing closer, holding his lightsaber ready to redirect. Finn tests this by moving his aim to Kylo's shoulder; Kylo moves to protect the shoulder: Finn has him!

Kylo looks back at the ground of the first shot. No blast mark —it only sent a discharge of static over the floor, then vanished. The shot was so small too, almost like that one Knight's—oh no.

Finn takes the shot directly at the lightsaber. Kylo draws it back just in time and freezes the plasma in front of his palm. Kylo looks back at Finn. Both men's eyes meet in respective fear. Finn makes the hand sign.

The white explosion is blinding, the wave nearly overwhelming him, but Kylo propels the sudden mass forward. The combustion bent around him.

The quake scattered the rubble and cratered the ground. Finn flies to dodge falling foundations. Kylo still stands, his entire arm shaking from the exertion, trembling from the feat. Finn is both in awe of Kylo's ability... and paradoxically enlightened to the limits of those abilities.

Finn looks at the ground he blasted at Kylo's side. Kylo looks as well, dives away, uses the Force to pull the wreckage of a wall as Finn makes the hand sign. The explosion buckles the barrier but protects Kylo. Finn gets these seconds to think:

From now on, Kylo will freeze the plasma shell and send it back. But HE has the momentum now. He can use this. Finn concocts a three-move check, the first step starting now.

Finn flanks Kylo from the side of the wall and advances with a series of lightsaber attacks. Kylo is off balance and plays defense. He finds his footing quickly as the two trade blows. Every time they lock blades, Finn fires a shot on a random surface, all over the room.

Kylo throws his weight behind a swing again, pushing Finn down the hole. Finn flies up, hovering fixed above and away from Kylo. A smirk on his face. Kylo takes a step left.

FINN Are you sure about that?

Finn makes a half-hand sign. Kylo stops. He looks around him, unable to place every protonium trap. Kylo looks back up at Finn. Kylo rolls his shoulders and sighs.

Alright. He acknowledges his opponent.

Kylo spins his sword in front of him, freezing the frame of the blade in place. The blade flickers back on, with the fixed red blade still hovering there. He adds two more of the hanging blades —the movement too fast for Finn to find the threat in time.

Kylo launches all three blades at Finn. Finn evades one, blocks the other with his lightsaber, but the third hits his left jet thruster.

Finn crashes hard into the dangling end of the floor, stuck only a meter between the wall and the drop. Kylo seizes this chance. He throws the lightsaber at his pinned opponent. Finn holds his own ready to block, but the sabers spins above him and to the side, with Kylo freezing the blades fast around him. Finn looks at the result: A series of frozen blades cutting him off from aerial escape; a cage of red death. The only gap is directly in front of him, where Kylo rushes.

Kylo continues to advance, catching his blade. Finn panics again and fires the Protonium Handgun. Kylo automatically ducks under it and inside the cage. Finn quickly holsters the gun, gets back the lightsaber. Kylo begins the beat-down.

Kylo lunges, sending Finn backward, closer to the cage behind him. Finn's terrified face coated in that red glow. Kylo keeps the pressure, wailing against Finn's white saber. Finn is too protective of his left side, the blades there intimidating him. Kylo punishes this lesser right guard, Force-punches his ribs, breaking two. Finn screams out, losing more ground.

It's not a fight anymore. Finn is cornered. Kylo's next attack sends him to the ground. Kylo makes one last lunge.

Finn looks instead to the cage. He sees it.

Finn activates his right jet, threading a narrow hole between fixed blades. Kylo's saber buries into the ground. He turns his head to see Finn.

The airborne Finn points the handgun to the fixed blade closest to Kylo.

Click.

The explosion engulfs Kylo, the blades scatter.

Finn can't control the jetpack with one jet. It takes all his focus, and he still smashes into a lower wall. Scrapping himself upward through the flaming side until crash landing back into the center of the throne room. Alive.

Kylo's body was launched away, landing near Rey. He only lives by the phrik armor Zaltan made for him —now ruined. Kylo rips the helmet off, concussed. He staggers to close the distance to Finn; Finn will win a ranged battle.

Finn groggily sees Kylo charging at him. Shocks awake, lightsaber on. They lock blades. From here, swordplay will decide the better man.

Rey begins to stir. Delirious, she watches the fight.

The battle is tight; feints, blocks, counters, so rapid and precise, the men's injuries only fueling their focus. Every move targeted, planned, executed above mastery. The victor will be made in an instant. And here it is:

Kylo overpowers Finn's block. Finn's arm and saber pushed down, and his guard completely exposed. Kylo shifts his momentum for the killing blow—

Finn makes the hand sign directly between them.

Kylo's face panics —he cancels his attack, taking his hand off the sword and ready to block Finn's suicidal explosion… only for nothing to come.

Kylo realizes. He looks back to Finn.

Finn swings his lightsaber upward, slicing Kylo's side from rib to color bone. His sword arm dropping down the spire.

Kylo falls to his knees, the shock of the blow too great to feel. He touches the wound, confused. Looks at Finn, even more confused. The inferior Jedi stands over him, his shining white blade hovering next to his neck. The sight too great to understand.

FINN It's over, Kylo.

Finn has won. He readies the blade to behead Kylo.

The image of Kylo and Finn, along with a critically wounded man surrounded by fire, head about to be chopped off by lightsaber (mirroring her vision in The Hidden Danger!), awakens Rey.

Rey stumbles toward the men, herself a mess.

REY Finn, wait! Don't do it!

Finn twitches his head slightly, keeping his eyes on Kylo. Happy to hear Rey alive, but knowing his grim task. Her words stop his blade, however.

FINN Rey! I'm glad your alive, Rey!

REY Finn, don't kill Kylo.

FINN …

REY Finn, please! He's my family!

FINN He doesn't think that anymore.

REY What?

FINN Rey, why are you here? Why weren't you in Galencia Tower?

REY …I had to kill the Emperor. He… killed someone who loved me. He was going to kill the rest of my family.

FINN …Kylo told you that?

REY …yes.

FINN I was at the Imperial Graveyard when it happened, Rey. I saw everything.

REY You were there…?

FINN It wasn't Zaltan. The assassins were from House Hux. They found out… because of me. Us. Kylo knows you were going back. He knows you rejected the family. And your rejection killed Aquila Galencia. He used you, Rey.

Rey accepts the painful truths.

REY …it had to be done. Finn… please back away from Kylo.

FINN HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU REY.

Rey accepts this painful truth as well.

REY He can't kill anyone anymore, Finn. He's important to me. Don't do it.

Finn and Kylo stare into each other. Locking eyes of a same caged hatred, both resenting a reality conspiring against their every correct decision, manifested by the man in front of them. They each know how this must end.

Finn swings the blade.

REY NO!

Rey shoots the lightning at Finn's hand, burning his arm and ripping the lightsaber out of this hand. Finn screams and falls to his knees.

REY No! Oh no, Finn!

Rey has already made her decision, but she was unready to feel the consequences.

Finn turns to see Rey, his arm smoking, eyes betrayed.

FINN Rey… why?

REY Finn… don't move.

Finn tries to knock Kylo over the hole.

Rey shocks Finn and throws him to the wall. She catches Kylo and brings him to her side.

FINN Rey… you're not one of them.

Rey's soul is splitting apart.

REY Yes, Finn. I am.

Finn lowers his head. Defeated.

Kylo accepts the situation. He sees outside.

KYLO …his invasion has arrived.

Rey turns around to see hundreds of warships close to arriving.

REY What is this…

KYLO His invasion. To sack Ren after he killed the Emperor and lowered the shields. He told the world to attack, Rey. The whole world is arriving …we need an Emperor.

Rey understands. She turns to Finn.

REY Finn… you killed the Emperor… you… you have to be executed before the world. To stop this. I will be the new emperor. To stop all this…

Finn keeps his head low. Surrendered.

REY Finn. I will see to it your family is buried in the Graveyard with full honors. It will have to be in secret, but I swear to y—

FINN Don't.

Rey looks to Finn, tears down her cheeks.

FINN (cont.) Leave us. Let our deaths be our escape.

REY Finn… I am so sorry.

Finn has no more words. Everything wasted.

KYLO ATTORN!

Attorn awakens from the elevator, delirious still.

ATTORN Yes…?

KYLO The Traitor has killed Zaltan. Head of House Galencia, Rey Galencia, has apprehended him. Take him down for execution.

Attorn is astonished. Then he realizes this hellscape is the Imperial Throne. He understands the need for speedy action without question.

ATTORN …yes, lord.

Attorn takes the elevator down to get guards.

Rey looks gazes out at the invaders. She closes her eyes. Understanding her place in all this. Her lonely role in this universe.

An Empress.

In cold command, she extends her hand. The lightning stretches defiantly into the nearest ship, destroying it.

Kylo is awed. Finn only falls lower.

Attorn is already back up with guards. They rush to pin Finn with a shock collar. All while Rey starts batting ships off with ease. Attorn and the guards transfixed by the power. Even now, understanding they witness a new age.

Rey faces forward, the Empire's sole counter. While addressing Attorn and the guards, she only tilts her head back.

REY Attorn. I am Head of House Galencia. But that name is only for my family. You and everyone else will know me as Empress. Empress Rey Sidious, returning Sith Leader and savior of Ren.

Attorn's mouth agape is taken as acceptance. Kylo mulls over her words.

REY (cont.) Take the Traitor out of here.

As Sith Empress Sidious wages a lone campaign against an entire army, they haul the broken man down.

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179 Ren Jail Cell – Int. 179

The cell is white and black. No windows, no monitors. The black entrance door on one side, with four stormtroopers standing guard. The seats are on the other side of the wall, complete with restraints for prisoners. Currently, the only occupant is Poe.

Swaying back and forth, bored, Poe impatiently waits for either his execution or negotiated release. He looks quizzically at the guards.

POE Any of you like Shelled Suns?

The men give him nothing… but the one on the far side does raise his hand. The others look back at the idiot in disappointment. Poe smiles at this.

Four more stormtroopers enter, with the collared Finn. Poe's humor vanishes on sight. The troopers begin strapping Finn to a seat, but right after, the entrance door shuts.

The stormtrooper who raised his hand nods at another. They aim their guns, stunning every other soldier in the room, in only a few efficient volleys.

One takes a can from his belt and sprays his hand in red paint. He marks his helmet with the hand symbol as he turns to Finn.

BOLDER Finn Skywalker, sir! We're getting you out of here.

The other man marks his. Poe is amped, while Finn remains empty.

POE That's what I'm talking about!

SMARTER There's a ship in House Galencia that can get you out of Imperial Space. The droids can fix it for you both!

POE Droids?

BOLDER It's incredible. The R2 unit has been spreading Finn Skywalker's message through House Lucreja's media channels non-stop. The other two smuggle it to us soldiers.

SMARTER Never seen loyalty like it in any droid, far be it in three.

POE …We got a way with machines. You two got a plan?

BOLDER Yes!

SMARTER Not really.

They have taken off both men's shackles and Finn's collar now.

POE That's what I like to hear.

SMARTER Here, but these hoods on. I'll take you to the ship.

BOLDER I'll stay back, keep these ones down. And any more that come in.

POE I like it… Finn?

Finn feels nothing anymore but knows these soldiers' brave actions deserve a reward.

FINN Thank you. Your courage inspires me.

The men both pause, taking that in.

Finn and Poe put on the hoods, right before they leave, Smarter says:

SMARTER Oh! I need a clean helmet.

POE Haha, improvise, soldier!

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180 Ren War Room – Int. 180

This chamber underneath Ren eyes the entire world. Dense and layered with holographic projections of every violent update. The ceiling and walls are subdivided to fit everything. Even the seats have projectors for absent officials. While their planet burns around them, the central table broadcasts the incoming fleet. The holotable has twenty chairs, but on this short notice, half stay empty.

GENERAL BEG Whose Knight is bringing down the ships?! They are no longer responding to our surrenders! Those idiots will kill us all!

GENERAL PLEAD It's Fashna, those fools. Revenge for Zaltan. We need to invade the House, subdue the Knight, and continue submitting our surrender. Keep continuing contact. We can't let them mistake our actions.

GENERAL KILLPANZER …they are already getting the message they want. Surrenders only entertain our killers.

The four surrounding generals are disgusted at his suggestion.

A blue hologram appears on the ceiling: Their new Empress. Rey wears a black robe to hide her injuries. Her bruised and burned face, along with her cold scowl, gives a sense of ferocity.

REY I am Sith Empress Rey Sidious. Attorn gave me this channel to convene with my on-planet generals.

GENERAL KILLPANZER We are they.

REY We will be taking back control of this planet.

GENERAL BEG We can't! Without shields, we need to focus on drafting a surrender!

General Beg is violently thrown into a wall by a flash of lightning. The generals have this to deal with now. Killpanzer respects the approach.

GENERAL KILLPANZER To control the planet, we need to secure Ren first. We have the garage openings cleared, our ships on standby. No point launching without shields, as they will destroy Ren if we attack.

REY I will continue destroying any ship flying too near. They won't step foot in this city.

GENERAL PALPATINE We have the old reserve shield generator on the bottom level. It can provide light cover.

REY What type of shield?

GENERAL PALPATINE Bezdize type. Tight and efficient, lacking in power.

REY I am familiar. General, have Attorn give me the blueprints. I can support the shields. They will hold under my power.

GENERAL PALPATINE It will be done.

GENERAL KILLPANZER I suggest launching every ship on mass, closing the shield behind them. Overwhelm them.

REY Begin preperation. Last, have every House flee into the bunkers. I won't be able to stop every shot.

GENERAL PLEAD I will do so, your excellence.

GENERAL KILLPANZER Glory to the Empire!

REY …May the Empire never fall.

Her transmission ends. The men leave for their roles.

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181 The Eagle Mark II – Int. 181

Outside The Eagle Mark II, troopers have cleared the rubble at the entrance of the garage. Pilots sit in their battle craft, waiting for the order. Emergency alert alarms blare redundantly.

Finn and Poe are hauled inside, take the sacks off their heads. Smarter stops at the entrance. R2D2, C3PO, and BB8 rush over to greet them.

C3PO Masters Finn and Poe! You are alive! Oh, I am so happy!

R2D2 & BB8 *excited beeping

POE Hey, you batches of bolts, heard what you been up to! Good work!

SMARTER I'll go from here, sirs. More needs to be done.

POE (to Smarter) You stay alive, soldier.

FINN We won't forget you today.

SMARTER Thank you, sir. Goodbye.

Smarter hands over Finn's jetpack and Protonium Handgun then leaves, the entrance closing behind him.

POE You replace the compressor '3PO?

C3PO Of course, sir! It was a simple task.

POE …yeah. Finn, can you check that?

FINN On it.

POE Sounds great. I'll get things ready over here.

Poe pushes a few buttons, soon sees The Eagle light up —Finn just made record time. Poe can barely react to the speed of this before Finn enters and takes the copilot seat. BB8 rolls into the same room to be with his friends. Even the droid can feel the difference in Finn.

POE …Where's Rey?

BB8 *worried whir

FINN She's staying. Let's leave.

Poe and BB8 share a look.

POE Finn… what happened?

The ships all around them start taking off all at once.

FINN They're mass launching. This is our best chance.

POE Got it! We're outta here!

The Eagle MII joins in, leaving the garage with the fifty other Galencia ships.

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282 Imperial Throne – Int. 282

Rey returns to waging a one-woman war on the entire enemy fleet. Lightning bolts constantly shooting from her arms, branching out attacking the floating warships. The front row falls in flames, the next row desperately raining fire of rockets and lasers on the city. The branches split into smaller webs catching most, but most the skyscrapers are still riddled with fresh-burning holes. Only Galencia Tower remains without injury.

Rey returns an arms to rest at her side. We can see slightly under her cloak she still has her tattered dress and every wound from the last fight. She must push even further into the depths of power itself.

She whips her hand forward, deflecting the volleys away, the wave of electric-web crashing into the scattered ships, stunting their attacks.

Finally, every Imperial ship below her scatters to combat the rebel fleet. And among them…Rey sees The Eagle MII.

CUT TO: Eagle MII
Finn feels Rey's gaze.
CUT BACK:

Rey knows she must. She raises her hand to The Eagle MII.

CUT TO: Eagle MII
Finn understands what is about to happen
CUT BACK:

Rey delays. Her stone face conflicted, pushing down her agony to fill her role.

CUT TO: Eagle MII
Poe says, "we're primed, hitting it!" with The Eagle Mark II entering hyperspace.
CUT BACK:

Rey watches The Eagle enter hyperspace and leave the planet. A smile strikes across her face.

The new domed shield goes up.

REY Attorn!

ATTORN (as hologram) Yes, right here, Empress.

Rey looks over the blueprints Attorn presents. It is significantly similar to the prison satellite. She extends her hands, hundreds of bolts scatter across the shield, bulking it. The missile, ballistics, and blasters sprinkle hopelessly over the renovated shell.

Rey lets go, and the shield remains strong. Attorn's hologram ends. Kylo walks behind her.

KYLO Are you happy to let him go?

REY …it is for the best.

KYLO Still so sentimental.

REY No. With the Traitor fled, we gain a political tool to unite the Houses and justify our campaigns in chasing him. His service to us continues, Kylo.

KYLO My family calls me Jon.

REY AND YOU REJECTED THAT. You lied and used me, tried to kill me, and expect me to name you FAMILY? I do not return your House status to you, Kylo. You will serve as my Cardinal Knight until you redeem every sin against me.

KYLO So be it. What next?

REY …we have a planet to win. A better galaxy to build after. You may rest to heal your…injuries.

Kylo only glances at his temporary prosthetic.

KYLO I have taken stimulants. I will campaign with you until victory today.

A rumble through the rubble. Kylo and Rey turn to see Cassariot Ren, that persistent phantom still alive, dragging his body over to kill Rey.

Rey's face shows pity. She walks with reverence over to the Knight.

REY No Jedi can feel a Knight?

KYLO No. Their very souls 'ripped from them. Only a void left. The spoken command by their assigned masters the singular "will" the Force channels through.

REY I thought so, but… when we fought… I felt it… a screaming—stretched, pained, small, and sharp. Muffled in an endless vacuum…

KYLO They're still alive after all that…

REY Yes…

Rey takes off Cassariot Ren's shattered helmet. A bloodied face butchered long ago by wires and bolts. Sightless eyes. Expressionless. Only the head fixed on his target.

REY (cont.) …this cannot continue.

She puts her hand over his head, almost lovingly. Static jumps from her to him. Life comes back to his eyes, face twitching. His senses return, too unfamiliar with his body to scream, looking restlessly around him. His new birth a frightening experience.

Rey quiets his fears, brings him to her chest. Rubs his mangled head. Cassariot calms, tears dripping down the wires out his eyes.

REY We will make a new Empire, Kylo. A better galaxy. To make up for everything we have done… and will do.

Kylo looks on in amazement.

KYLO As you wish, Empress Sidious.

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183 Various Shots of Coruscant (Morning) 183

Close battles all over the planet.

One city where the stormtroopers crush the rebels, an officer ends his communication with: "…as Empress Sidious wishes."

One city where the rebels have taken over the government building. A massive crowd cheers out unified: "FINN SKYWALKER, FINN SKYWALKER!"

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184 The Eagle – Int. 184

Finn stares at the open smuggler compartment.

Poe enters.

POE Hear what that guy called you?

FINN Aeneas told me that was spreading.

POE "Finn Skywalker," haha, Luke will love that! A name to face the Emperor! Haha…he…hmmm.

Finn stays staring. Poe's attempts at easing into 'the question' fail. He must ask:

POE (cont.) What happened with Rey?

FINN She stayed, Finn.

POE What does that mean?

FINN It means she chose them, Poe! She saw everything they were and still choose them over us! …we only delivered the Imperial Family a new Sith Emperor.

POE No…

FINN Luke told me how few timelines there were where we all lived through this. I wondered how but I see it now… In every timeline, every path to be taken… there were none where Rey would choose us over the Family.

POE …She do that to you?

Poe points to the burn on Finn's hand.

FINN Yes… I was about to kill Kylo Ren. For trying to kill her. Even that was not enough to sway her. No, no, I was wrong.

POE Finn, she is in the wrong

FINN (in half-trance) No! I see it! I could have joined her! Poe, we could have changed the Empire from the inside! I ruined it! I was too weak to see the truth.

POE Finn, I am never joining the Empire.

FINN (in half-trance) It would have worked, Poe. We could have saved the galaxy right there… now I can see where all this will go… oh no.

POE Finn, are you seeing visions…?

FINN Only pieces… I am still so weak. I need to get stronger. You too, Poe.

POE What, teaching me the Force now?

FINN You've stayed a captain for too long.

POE …still going our separate ways, then.

FINN Yes… You will always be my friend, Poe.

POE You're still the best man I've met in the universe, Finn.

FINN I need to get better, Poe. I see the path forward. Soon a terror unlike anything witnessed will tear across this galaxy. One event, just before this… I see it. It has to be.

POE Finn?

FINN …I will have to face Rey. Alone.

Finn and Poe look at each other, feeling the galaxy spin with them in the center. Their long tragedy here concluded, the new fated final battle irresistibly pulling them forward.

We cut to all the players: The Burning Coruscant, the weeping Ephrath, the proud General Organa, the hopeful Luke Skywalker, the MDS Krannek, the DS Gammalann, Rey cradling Cassariot with Kylo watching onward, Finn and Poe looking out into hyperspace, the galaxy itself, spinning ever forward.

All to be concluded in "Episode IX: THE EMPRESS OF DEATH"

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