The Broken Ones | REYLO [Complete]

7. Hand to Hand

--REY--

Finn and I follow Luke and Leia toward the hangar. Flashes of cannon fire light up the sky above us, followed by an ear-shattering explosion. The destroyed TIE Fighter crashes with a force that shakes the ground. We watch as flames engulf the battered fighter, quickly spreading to the area around the crash site.

"We need to get inside!" Finn yells over the roar of the battle. He points up to the sky and I follow his gaze to the six transport ships zooming toward the ground.

"How many stormtroopers can fit in each of those?" I ask Finn.

"Twenty at least. We're looking at well over a hundred about to open a can of whoop-ass on us."

"You two need to hide," I tell Luke and Leia. "It's you they're after."

Leia is about to argue when she suddenly grows still. Her eyes widen and she looks up at the sky with an expression of fear and anticipation.

"Is it Ben?" Luke asks, gazing at the sky. His sister nods. Finn and I look at each other, neither of us knowing what to do or say.

"I have to go help the others get ready," Finn says, squeezing my hand briefly. "We're about to have one hell of a fight on our hands."

"Be safe," I beg him. He nods and tells me to do the same before disappearing into the hangar.

The first we hear is a noise like a massive sandstorm, strong gales of hot wind snapping trees under the belly of the beast.

It's an Upsilon-class shuttle, the same one from the attack on Takodana. Its wings fold inward as it lands in the grass less than two hundred meters away, blowing the growing fire even closer to the base.

"You need to go," I say to Leia, urging her to flee before it's too late.

"I can't," she cries. "He's my son! I need to see him."

Then he's there, walking down his ship's boarding platform, looking to be in no hurry whatsoever.

Leia chokes on a sob when she sees him. I can't imagine the whirlwind of emotions she must be feeling. Here is her only child, who not only betrayed her and the new Republic they were creating, but sent her brother into exile for a decade and a half, and murdered her husband - his own father - in cold blood.

Luke puts his arm protectively around his sister, who drops the lightsaber she was holding. I reach out and slowly summon it with the Force, not wanting Kylo Ren to see it.

When he gets closer than I'm comfortable with, I step between him and his mother and uncle. He stops. I can't see his face, but I have a feeling he's smirking.

"Step aside before I kill you," he growls, metallic voice muffled by the mask. I lift my chin in defiance.

Luke steps up beside me. "You wouldn't kill her, Ben," he says calmly.

Suddenly Ren's unstable blade ignites and he points it at his former Master. "That name and this scavenger mean nothing to me!" He shouts.

"You and I both know you spared her for a reason." Luke stands unfazed, despite the humming lightsaber in his face.

"My intention was for her to remember who did it. By taking away her memories, you made her disposable." He turns the saber on me now and I flinch.