Star Wars Episode IX: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 26: Duel of the Fates

There are moments in a person's life that define their destiny. There are choices and decisions that people make that will alter their life permanently and shape everything they identify themselves with. Ben Solo knew that today would be one of those moments. As he and Finn zoomed through hyperspace towards Exegol, Ben thought of his life leading up to this moment. He had made plenty of mistakes, and maybe this was about to be one of the many, but he believed that he was right where he was meant to be.

The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt Rey. He dreaded the moment he had to face her once again. After their last encounter, there was a fear in him stronger than ever before: he feared that she was too far gone, that Palpatine once again won against him and his family. For three generations, Palpatine had been fighting with the Skywalkers and was always one step ahead of them. Ben was determined to finally relieve the galaxy of his grasp once and for all, no matter what was necessary.

He was happy to have Finn by his side. He didn't know if he had the strength to kill Rey if it really came down to it, Finn either; but together they may have a chance. Ben knew that the majority of the Final Order's troopers would be fighting in the sky, but he knew that Rey would not be left unattended. They were going to be in for the fight of their lives before they even reached Rey. Finn was an excellent fighter and a very quick learner and with all of the training Ben had, he was confident they would be okay.

He was pulled from his own head as he felt the ship lurch out of hyperspace. The aerial battle had already begun as they snuck their way down to the barren entrance to the fortress. As they stepped out of the Falcon, they heard the familiar whine of TIE Fighters above as lasers shot from all directions. Explosions could be heard all around them as ships from both sides fell in decay to the surface below. The shrill lightning only added to the noise as Finn and Ben rushed inside the ironic safety of the concrete fortress in front of them.

It was deceptively empty in front of the pair as they continued inside the fortress. Finn looked all around and yet he found no sign of any trooper or guard. "Something isn't right, Ben. Where is everyone?" Finn asked. Ben similarly found himself searching around every corner, his unlit lightsaber firmly in his palm. "There is a large open room coming up, it's a perfect spot for a trap." Ben murmured as they approached the end of the first hallway.

As Ben suspected, the cavernous room in the fortress laid untouched by the First Orders redesign of the ancient stone. It was as cold and dark as it was naturally on this planet, the room illuminated by distant crystals in the ceiling of the rock, lightning crackling along the top of the space occasionally as energy flowed through the room. Their eyes scanned the room carefully, trying to spot any sign of enemies near.

Out of one of the many entrances to the room stepped a group of men clad in dark armor and almost comically large weapons, many of them containing miniaturized lightsaber blades in addition to their metal ones. All of their faces were concealed by masks that gave away no hint of their features. They were soulless, detailess, and intimidating as Finn looked to the men as they approached. Ben recognized them immediately as his heart fell. Once upon a time, these men were the closest thing that Ben had to friends. They had all escaped the Jedi training of his Uncle together and trained in the Dark Side, eventually falling under Ben's own leadership.

He should have expected them to remain loyal to the First Order. He should have expected to have to fight with the people he once viewed as his family. As they stopped in front of him, Ben felt his heart thrumming in his chest. Finn could feel the tension in the room and based on the look of dread in Ben's eyes, he knew they must have known each other. Ben was the first to speak. "No harm will come if you let us pass."