Star Wars Episode IX: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 19: You're Still Holding On

Sun rose on Ajan Kloss like any other day. Soldiers woke up to do their tasks for the day, prepping their ships and monitoring activity of the Final Order. But the day was different from the rest. There was a tension in the air. Ben Solo felt out of place as he walked around the camp. He felt the eyes on him; he heard the whispers and gasps. He saw the fear and hatred in their eyes. He didn't blame them. He knew why they hated him so much and he deserved every second of it. They shouldn't trust him; he didn't even know if he could trust himself. He thought coming here would feel right, like it would feel it was where he belonged. The last time he felt that way was with Rey on Zuffarim. Rey. His heart clenched in his chest as he thought of her. He missed her so much it nearly ached. He loved her more than he thought was possible, but he did not love who she became. Empress Palpatine was not the woman he loved-- she was a monster.

You're a monster.

Yes I am.

The Dark Side is in our nature.

Their voices bounced through his mind as he grabbed some fruits from the interior of the Resistance cave. He was still the monster she thought he was, maybe even more so now. He twisted her mind and used her for his own gain and when she rose to the power he knew she was capable of, he ran away. He was a coward and a monster. Finn's mind was echoing the hate of the man as if they were thinking the same thoughts about him. He watched him grab food and look around seemingly out of place. Good, you should feel unwelcome. He thought to himself. Their eyes connected for the briefest of moments before they both diverted their attention away.

Poe watched Finn's face twist into one of anger and hatred, causing him to forcefully bump his knee against his. Finn let out a yelp of pain before snapping his eyes to his friend. "What was that?" He snapped, causing a smirk to form on Poe's lips. "You keep your face twisted like that, it's gonna get stuck that way." He teased. Finn rolled his eyes and focused back on the star map in front of him. With a sigh, Poe spoke again. "You can't keep avoiding this forever."

Finn slowly looked at Poe before he let out a breath. "Look, I know you mean well but I can't do this right now. I still don't trust him and I'm especially not going to go and gossip with your good friend Kylo Ren because you suddenly have a soft s[pot for the genocidal maniac." Finn wished he could take back the words as soon as they left his mouth. Poe's jaw clenched as his eyes darkened in hurt which he masked quickly. "You're an ass sometimes." Poe growled before standing and leaving Finn to himself. He looked around the cave to find no sign of Poe or Ben Solo.

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"That is the best you can do?" His voice taunted her ears as she rested her hands on her knees and caught her breath. Her lungs burned as her breaths tried to level out to no avail. "If you were strong enough, you'd fight back." Her bones rumbled with the metallic resonance from his mask. His heavy boots thumped around her in a circle as her eyes remained tightly shut. "I expected more strength from a Palpatine. But I was mistaken." She heard the vibration of a lightsaber move through the air from behind her as her eyes opened. "I expected more from a Skywalker." She snapped back, avoiding catching his gaze.

"Weak and unwise." His voice was closer than ever before but something kept her from turning around. "An undesirable combination." He continued. Her eyes widened as she felt her airways constrict, her feet leaving the floor as her hands clamped around her own throat to alleviate the pain. "If you were strong enough, you could get out of this." She made no response as her own sputters filled the void around them. Her eyes shut as she felt her body spin to face the masked man. She heard his breathing close to her as she tried to escape his hold. "I failed in killing the last Palpatine. I will not make the same mistake again."