Extraction

Rey awoke to the first sun of Ahch-To's light penetrating her eyelids. Her eyes slowly opened to her quiet room. She squinted at the light hitting her eyes almost violently. Rey rolled over to her side blinking her eyes repetitively to rid the sleep from her. Her hands instinctively rose to her face, rubbing it as she yawned. She let her hands fall back to her side and began to sit up, stretching her stiff muscles. She swung her legs over the bed's edge. The cold stone floor hit her feet as she stood up. Rey walked over to the small table by the door that had a fresh pile of clothes on top of it. She took the first outfit off the stack and tucked it between her arm and body as she set the rest of the clean clothes back down to the small table. Aware of the lack of clothes, Rey snaked each limb into the layer of clothes. Pushing her last leg into the loose pants that were cut off at the calf, she walked towards the bathroom.

She brushed her fingers through the knotted strands. Her fingers caught on a nest of hair, forcing her fingers to push forward, grimacing at the pain. Satisfied, the Jedi pulled her hair into three equal knots running down the curvature of her head. She looked at herself in the mirror above the vanity. She looked tired from her restless sleep. Unable to stop thinking about Master Skywalker's, the former Sith Lord Darth Vader, words about learning to not only balance herself but also Ben Solo and Kylo Ren. She shook the thought from her mind, she had to focus on the mission. If she did not give her one hundred percent, it could go awry. Her friends were counting on her. He counted on her whether he would like to admit or not. Rey splashed cold water on her face washing away any remnants of sleep and tired skin away. Her body leaned over the stone counter, her face dripping with water. She felt for a towel blindly with her left hand, finding it, she brought it to her wet face. Patting off the water, she folded the towel back neatly and placed it back to the counter.

She looked at the first sun, the second just peering over the horizon, and could tell it was about 0700 hours. She walked to the entryway, summoned her staff to her left hand allowing it to drift into her hand. Rey brought the staff's sling around her shoulder, allowing the weapon to rest along her length. Holding the strap in one hand. She turned her head to the right, looking at her earth-toned knapsack, willing it toward her. She slung the bag's strap over her right shoulder and headed out the door. The opened door exposed the busy corridor. Aliens and Humans just getting up and around for the day. Rey joined the stream of traffic as she shut the wooden door behind her. The rush of life around her inspired hope within herself and lifted some of the pressure off her shoulders. Hope. Hope is the only thing Rey has ever had in her life. It is the one constant that she could rely on in her times of need and uncertainty. Life always has a way of pushing forward, even when devastation hits, it just kept going. Creating new life in lieu of death and destruction.

The outdoor airfield was almost deserted since the Resistance has been in hiding. Only weekly maintenance checks on the X-Wings starfighters and the escape pods that they had left, or were not destroyed by the First Order, were required to keep them ready in case of an emergency evacuation. She spotted Poe first. His frame peaked from behind an X-Wing. His head was thrown back, laughing at something. A smile touched the corners of Rey's lips as she approached the group. Looking upon the freighter Poe was leaning on, it was perfect. It was an old AL-KM44 Allanar N3 light freighter. The Galactic Empire used these ships in their navy and were also used by smugglers and mercenaries. A perfect disguise, no one would suspect members of the Resistance to be aboard a ship associated with the days of Darth Vadar. Finn and Rose stood next to each other at the ship entrance with BB-8 at their feet.

"Poe, where did you find this thing? This thing is ancient." Rey exclaimed as she looked over the ship that appeared to be in good condition. The exterior was intact and showed no signs of wear for its age. The tall rectangular windows to the cockpit allowed her to see dated equipment and electronics inside. Her hand cupped over her eyes as her face was pressed to the clear Transparisteel window. Transparisteel is a hardy material that is created to withstand the harsh environment of space while allowing visibility to pilots as they flew across the galaxy. Rey turned to the pilot standing confidently with a grin on his face, half a step away from laughing like he had done the impossible.

"I found this beaut at a trading post on Bantu. The Crolute that sold it to me, that cheap gelatinous bastard, said he wanted they X-Wing I was flying and my blaster or no deal. But it was worth it. This N3 is old, but man, she is fast. I flew it back here and it handles well. It is not as agile as an X-wing, but this baby will get the job done. Plus, it is an old Galactic Empire navy ship, so it has got some pretty good nav systems." Poe said with pompousness flooding off of him. He was proud of his find. His hand was petting the ship mindlessly as he looked at Rey. Rose and Finn rolled their eyes and laughed at Poe, this was nothing new for any of them. BB-8 beeped at Poe, calling him an arrogant flyboy.

"Good enough for me. Now, let's get going. We have a good amount of distance to cover. Let's load up." Rey held the strap of her quarterstaff tightly in her hand as she moved toward the entrance that was tucked under the wing. The entry door hissed opened to reveal steal walls. The short corridor veered left as she stepped in, the rest following behind her. As she turned she came up to a door to her right, it opened upon her approach. It was a storage closet, nothing interesting. The group continued the hall to the open cockpit. Rey stopped at the entryway of the cramped room. It contained two pilot chairs, a navigational screen in between the pilots' controls, and various electronics and blinking buttons scattered around the cockpit. This ship is dated, but Rey could see the value of the vessel. It contained everything they would need. When she turned, her friends had already moved on to explore the rest of the freighter.

"Hey Rey, come check this out!" Finn shouted from the back of the ship. Rey came out of the cockpit, turning left towards the back hallway. She set her staff and bag down in a pile as she walked toward the commotion. This room must be the rest area. There was a small couch that seemed to be falling apart and off to the far wall there was a table in the center of a semi-circle booth. She saw Finn, Rose, BB-8, and Poe kneeling around a pile of clothes. She looked down at her friends, they were digging through them, putting the clothes that caught their eyes up to their bodies.

"What is all this? Are these the clothes you found, Rose?" Rey's eyebrows lifted as she turned to Rose, squatted near the piles of clothes.

"Yep! Here, these are for you. I picked them out for you. We have to look the part." Rose came up with a pile of clothes with boots on top. The length of the boots fell off to one side. Rey's face was contorted looking at the clothes. She had never worn anything other than simple linen attire. She was curious to see what Rose had picked out for her. Rey walked over to the table and sat the clothes down on the table. She picked the boots up first, turning them over to examine the soft, aged leather. The black boots were tall and had a low heal. Rey was relieved to notice the low heal, knowing that she would not be able to do anything in them if they were not. She set them off to the side. Picking up a brown cropped suede jacket that had a flapped pocket on the breast. The material was soft in her hands. She had never seen anything like this, let alone be able to call it hers. Her fingers traveled over the ribbed sides as she sat the jacket down in a pile next to the boots. Next in the pile was a form-fitting tunic that had long sleeves and a slim mock neck. It was an offwhite color and is made out of cotton material. She examined the piece before digging further into the pile. The pants were dark green cargo pants. There were flapped pockets on either side of the thigh. Rey traced the slightly cushioned, ribbed knees as she set them down too. Rey's eyes looked over extravagant clothes, at least they were to her with her simple taste, and turned on the pads of her feet toward Rose.

"Rose, I am not sure I can wear these," She gestured her left hand at the clothes that sat crumpled in a pile. "These are unlike anything I have ever worn. Plus, they look so tight, I don't know if they would even fit me." Rey's words dragged Rose from Finn and Poe trying clothes on and pretending to shoot each other with finger guns. They could be idiotic sometimes.

"Rey, trust me, these clothes will fit. And besides, you will look great in them. Come on, you are beautiful. It is okay to accentuate it." Rose gave her a small wink as she tried to fill Rey with confidence. Rey had never done anything of the sorts, the concept was foreign to her. Rose's words helped a little bit. The young Jedi nodded her head at her friend, taking the clothes up in her arms. Rey walked out of the rest area and went back to the hall where she had left her staff and bag. Picking up the items, she slung their straps around her shoulders. She turned to continue to the crew's quarters. As she rounded the corner, there were only a handful of rooms for the crew. Rey took the last one at the end of the hallway. The door hissed open, thankful it was not a manual door with everything she was carrying. She walked into the small room. The rectangular cabin had been sparsely furnished. There were two bunks mounted into the walls, one on either side. The bunks each had one pillow and thin blankets. The mattresses looked thin, but she has had worse.

Rey crossed the room to the right bunk and set her pile down. She stripped her body of her linen attire, letting the pieces fall to the metal floor of the room. She picked up the cargo pants, finding they were more form-fitting than she liked, but she had to disguise herself. Her old clothes would be a dead give away that she was a Jedi. The pants, she found she liked. The style complimented her. Each layer of clothing, she found she liked once she had put the whole outfit on. There was a knock on the door. Just slipping on the suede jacket, Rey shouted through the door to come in. It was Rose. She had something in her hand, hanging beside her, and she was smiling as she entered Rey's chambers. Rose was wearing something similar to Rey. She had her hair pulled into a tight knot that rested low on her head. Her boots came over her knees. Instead of a jacket, Rose wore a tight vest that held many pockets. She had never seen the mechanic look so intimidating before.

"Here, one more thing. This is a holster for your blaster." Rose announced as she raised her hand to Rey, gesturing that she take it from her. The soft brown leather sheath reminded Rey of Han Solos. She took it from her. Holding it out in front of her, examining it, trying to figure out just how she was supposed to put it on. She unclasped the wide hexagonal-shaped buckled and wrapped around her waist. It hung vertically from her right. The holster hit the upper midsection of her thigh. She opened the strap and fastened it to her leg.

"Wow, Rey. You look great. Oh, and I also came to tell you that we are about to take off and Poe needs you in the cockpit." Rose walked out through the door with Rey close by.

Streaks of light whizzed by the ship as they traveled through hyperspace on their way to Dantooine. Luckily Dantooine was in the Outer Rim Territories and it was not going to be a long journey. This was going to be the first time in months that she had seen Kylo Ren in person. She had talked to him so many times through the bond, felt his presence, but after all their meetings all the things they had shared, how is she going to act around him? The intimacy of their thoughts, feelings, even memories have softened how they viewed each other. Why else would he let her come to him? How could someone like Kylo Ren have trusted someone who, until recently, was his sworn enemy with who he had some sort of dark infatuation? He hated her core, yet wanted to talk to her. He could not stand her idealism, yet felt drawn to her enticing offer to join her. He hated her almost constant state of calm and he was envious of her ability to center herself. He hated her, yet wanted to be near her. She balances him without even trying.

"We are dropping out of Hyperspace in t-minus one minute," BB-8 announced to Poe and Rey. They both sat up in their chairs to ready themselves for the sudden drop in speed, which they are bound to feel in this ancient ship. The emerald planet appeared before them. Clouds swirled around the colossal planet. It looked just as beautiful as Rey had imagined it to be. A sudden, familiar tug pulled at her chest. She knew that Ben was close. She could feel him on the planet waiting for her to find him. She was so close. The thought of her deceit to get her friends to help her extract Ben Solo, weighed heavily over her chest as they began to descend to the planet's atmosphere.

"Rey, switch the stabilizers on. Landing is going to be a little bumpy." Poe broke the silence, never taking his eyes away from the approaching planet. Rey hastily found the stabilizer and opened its covering and flipped the switch. Automatically, the ship leveled and began to fly down towards the planet's surface smoothly. The atmosphere was burning around them as the freighter dove through it with rapid speed.

"Who would come here to hide out?" Poe scoffed to himself as they began their descent to a nearby airfield that was scattered with ships and speeders from what Rey could tell were traders and tourists. Rey let the landing gear down, letting the ship settle on the ground as smoothly as the fossil could manage. Their ship seemed to blend in perfectly to the others parked around it. Poe cut the engines to the N3 and got up. He wore a dark tunic that plunged, exposing a mature chest, a long wool trench coat with brass buttons, and high boots over his fitted pants. He looked like a captain to their band of traders. But they looked more like smugglers. Rey followed behind him and BB-8. The group convenes at the entrance to the ship. Each of them standing around waiting for the next step. Finn handed out DH-17 blaster pistols to each of them. They were heavy, but they will get the job done if needed.

"Here, put these in your holsters. I also brought back up energy packs for your pistols. I don't imagine that we will need them. This is a pretty calm planet." Rey took the blaster and two packs from Finn, tucking it into the holster on her thigh that held it snugly to her body. She placed the energy packs on the magnetic strip on her holster. The energy packs snapped to the belt with an audible clicking sound.

"Alright," Rey called the group's attention, " This man we are here to extract is a man that is valuable to the Resistance, we must, at all cost, make sure to return him to base. So, be vigilant out there and follow my lead." Rey let out sternly, nodding to her friends. As they stepped out of their ship, BB-8 was beeping loudly behind them. Rey turned to the little robot.

"Sorry, BB-8, we cannot take you with us. You will draw too much attention." We will be back in a little while. Guard the ship" Rey patted the droids head softly and turned, allowing the doors to close and headed for her friends that were huddled together off a little ways from the ship. She felt anxious about being this close to Ben. She had no idea how this was going to pan out. All she knew was that she is here for her friend and that she must take him back with her to protect him from the First Order. Even though he gave her no reason to save him, due to his past, she knew that even Kylo Ren deserves a fresh start. She knows he wants it. She can feel it, see it every time his dark brown eyes look at her. Rey and the rest of the group started to head to the major city of Dantoon Town. The outskirts were beautiful. The tall woolly grass grazed her legs as she walked through it. The same purplish trees scattered the field. The closer she got to the town, the stronger the bond tugged as if he were guiding her to him. She tried to reach out to him through the Force. The bond pulled harder. She could feel it starting to open up.

"Ben, I am here. I am coming up on the town." She informed Ben Solo. She could feel him there, but no response. Was he just as uncertain about this as she? Rey continued down the path that started to turn into cobblestone and buildings started to come into view.

"Ben, whe-" She was cut short with his reply. She felt as if she had not heard his, cold, yet soft voice in months.

"I know, keep walking until you get to the outer edge of the town. I will be waiting for you." Ben instructed her, trying to not create an avenue for her to dive into things. She gave an internal nod as the bond closed.

"This way everyone, follow me." Rey began to make her way up to the front of the group, weaving them through the busy city. The other side of the city must be miles away. But, they will make it before nightfall if they kept a good pace. As they were coming up to the edge of the city, Rey noticed a group of people standing outside, which seemed to be a bar. Three human males, a female Twi'lek, and a male Zabrak. Their dark-colored clothes all bared a symbol that identified them as bounty hunters. Fear rose up in her chest. The five of them stared her group down, causing Rey to become uneasy as she continued to Ben, a huge payday. Did they look too obvious? Did their clothes give them away, causing the band of bounty hunters to notice them? The uneasy feeling continued to follow her as she continued to the edge of the city. No one talked as they walked, everyone was being vigilant as their eyes swept their surroundings.

"Just a bit closer." Ben's voice sounded in her head. She could feel his force signature drawing closer to her. It was like a warm pull that radiated from her chest. Rey could feel his energy roll over her body in waves. She could feel his anxiety as she drew nearer

Ben spotted her through the crowd. She was wearing tight clothes fit for a smuggler. He had never seen her wear anything like it. The clothes accentuated her curves, things he never knew she had. She had always worn basic and loose-fitting clothes. His heart had started to pump harder as she came close to him. He was looking straight at her, unable to move. There he was, at a busy crossing at the edge of town and he could only see her. Ben stood in front of a trader's table. He was some form of humanoid, tall, dark wrinkly skin, and red eyes. The trader was shouting in his native dialect. Ben stepped into the crowd, waiting for Rey to spot him. The tourist and shoppers maneuvered around his tall, built stature. Rey's eyes swept to the right and saw him there, with the same refined expression on his face. He wore a dark brown robe that hovered over the cobblestone. His black boots hit just under the knees. His tight black pants, tucked into his boots and a linen vest over a plain long sleeve shirt. Rey almost stopped at the sight of him. She waved her group over to follow her. He did not know she would bring him. FN-2187. Anxiety rose up within him. FN-2187 knows him. He knows who he is. Worked under him. Rey grabbed his arm, tugging him over to the group. They all stared at him. Not knowing what to do, he stood there, jaw clenched and fist balled tightly. "Stay calm. They don't know who you are. Follow my lead." Rey prompted through their bond. Letting her calm ease his anxiety. His muscles relaxed, letting his jaw go and his fist unravel to his sides.

"Everyone, this is Ben Solo. This is General Leia's son. Ben, this is Poe, Finn, and Rose." Rey introduced him by his real name. That has not happened for the better part of fifteen years. It shocked him, but he dare not let it show. Ben Solo just nodded at the group. Not able to say a word to any of these strangers. Knowing that he had a profound effect on their lives. He looked away from their questioning faces, unable to cope with the memory of Kylo Ren's actions. The silence drew awkwardly. His hands were beginning to clench again, not knowing what to do. Rey put a friendly hand on his shoulder, allowing her calm to flow through him. Ben took a deep breath to clear his mind and to push away Kylo Ren.

"I cannot believe this is General Leia's son. Wow, we were all told you were murdered by Kylo Ren on Yavin 4!" The former Stormtrooper exclaimed, FN-2187 must not remember their fight that night on Starkiller Base. When he slashed him, it must have taken extensive medical care to bring him back. He thought over FN-2187's words, in a sense Ben Solo did die that night at Luke's Praxeum. Ben's eyes fell to the ground at the memory of Kylo Ren's birth. The screams of his classmates hollowed him out. The fire's warm blaze flashed over him, feeling it on his skin. Ben could feel the rage deep within him, Kylo Ren was calling out to him, begging for control. Rey felt his anger swelling through her. She could feel the claws sinking into her, climbing out from the depths from Ben's mind. Rey moved her hand to the back of his arm, offering a comforting touch, almost intimate. She did not realize her surroundings, but that did not bother her. It felt natural to rest her hand on him, comforting him. Finn's eyes snapped to the gesture. Questioning the familiar touch she offered, and to his knowledge, a stranger.

"Well, I'm alive. We should move, we have been out in the open for too long." Ben tried to erase any inflections in his voice, leaving them with cold and monotone words as he rose the suggestion. He lightly pulled his arm away from Rey's grasp as he began to lead the group through the city. Rey's feet hesitated to move for a moment, allowing her to take a position in the back of the group. After recklessly touching him, she thought it would be best to keep her distance from him. Rey could not allow herself to make such intimate gestures to, what her friends think, a perfect stranger. Stupid. Stupid, girl. Rey thought to herself as they traveled back through the now dwindling crowds. How could she make a mistake like that? She had never been a careless person. Sure, she has made a rash decision or two. But this? This is a man known throughout the galaxy as Kylo Ren, a ruthless murderer and she just touched him like he was hers. She could not allow herself to be anything other than a friend to him, a teacher.

Rey was walking next to Finn as they passed the halfway point of the city. Their convoy was silent, hands ready to grab their DH-17 pistols at a moment's notice. Ben had drifted to the middle, allowing him to be surrounded by them, but he was also interested in FN-2187. Interested in his proximity to Rey. Even though they did not say a word, there was an unspoken closeness to them. Rey's eyes swept the area as they come up to the bar. The band of bounty hunters were gone. The crowds of people and aliens had practically disappeared. The eerie deserted streets made panic grow within the group's minds. She could feel it coming from Ben too. As if this was something he had never experienced before. "Everyone, keep your eyes open… this-this shouldn't be like this." Worry had crept into his voice as he warned them. The air felt so still as they walked on edge. As if any moment something could strike. Rose walked a little closer to Finn, wrapping herself around his muscular arm. Rey turned, walking backward, her hand lifting the clasp of the holster. Resting her hand on the hilt of the pistol, ready for the pin to drop. Rey could feel everyone on edge, amplifying her adrenaline.

There was a clattering from objects falling nearby. Everyone's heads shot toward the sound. Rey's blaster was drawn in its direction. Kylo wanted to reach for his lightsaber, but couldn't in fear that he would surely be identified the moment it ignited. FN-2187 lightly tapped him on the shoulder, Ben spun around, ready for whatever attacker, but he was met with a semi-familiar face. Finn slightly jumped at Ben's reaction but stood steady. He clutched a small hold-out blaster to him. Ben's eyes looked at the compact pistol, taking it in the next moment. He felt secure having a weapon in the uneasy situation. They all took defensive positions, their backs turned to each other, watching every avenue and alleyway. Their blasters were in their hands, ready to fire at anything that moved. Rey backed into something with a thud. She spun viciously, her blaster pointed at it. Ben's shocked face met her contorted expression. Letting the blaster drop slightly from Ben's built frame. They gave each other a quick nod as they began to turn back to the street, scanning every inch. They walked through the abandoned city toward the airfield, aware of everything.

The airfield was now almost empty, save for their ship and a few others scattered. The ship was outlined by the dark in the unlit lot as they approached. The group was huddled at the bow of the ship, finally being able to take a breath. Ben stood next to Rey. The group's eyes kept sweeping the dark as they stood huddled around. The silence filled the air. "I am tired of feeling like I am being watched. I am going inside." Poe announced to the small group. "Me too." Finn agreed, letting out a deep sigh of exhaustion. Rose followed the two men into the old freighter, leaving Ben and Rey alone in the dark. Rey felt her heart quicken as she stood next to him. The thought of being alone with him after everything that has transpired over the past few months left her feeling nervous. It felt different this time compared to being alone with him through the bond. She could reach out and touch him, feel his body heat on her hand. Ben felt her sudden change in mood, her heart was beating hard within her chest. Her blood coursed through her. He began to sweat at the echoes of Rey's heightened emotional state. The bond tugged harder at their chests. They dare not look at each other or say a word. This moment felt so intense and personal. They felt like they were the only people in the world. Hyper aware of the other's movement, thoughts, and feelings. Why must it be her? A young woman who stood against everything he was not. And yet she was a beautiful poison, born to drive him mad. Rey, so innately good and enticing. She had always been meant for him. No matter how much he denied himself. She was his poison, his balance. Ben turned his body toward her and looked down. She was not brave enough to face him. She stood there, her heart pumping, not moving a muscle. She could feel her breath coming out heavily. Ben leaned onto the ship looking down at her small stature.

"Rey, look at me." Ben's voice had an almost sweetness to it. It was so foreign to both of them. Unaware he had that within him. The sweet voice made her relax, her body moved against her will. Turning toward him, looking up at his relaxed face. But Ben's eyes showed something else that she had never witnessed before. The gaze almost set her aflame when her eyes met his. Ben's eyes looked black in the dark, and his face was cut by the shadows. His hand reached out for her face. Her skin was hot and soft in his hand. Rey leaned into his touch. His hand was rough and calloused but had a gentle quality to it as it caressed her soft skin. Neither could believe the moment unfolding before them. They had never touched like this, it was intimate and endearing. His thumb was large in comparison to her face as he softly stroke her cheek. His eyes were locked into hers. He could feel Rey's insides melt against his touch. Why was he doing this? Touching her so personally? How could he just let himself surrender to her completely? But her skin was so soft and he could feel the effects of it ripple through their bond. Her face, cupped in his hand felt so natural. He lifted his hand from her face and it fell back to his side. Ashamed and frustrated at the thought that she had, yet again, tempted him.

"Please don't…" she let out almost in a whisper. Her eyes still glued on him. She could feel his shame and irritation rebound through the bond. Her skin felt cold where his hand had been. Ben felt his chest ache at the sight of her. So timid and nervous by his touch, her eyes fell to his chest for a moment before she rose them back at him. Her hair was down around her face in soft waves and the slight breeze lifted stray strands of hair. She was so beautiful and she did not even realize it. It was these moments that she let that mask of being strong and fearless go and just be her. A woman who is soft, caring, and vulnerable. Rey looked up at Ben, her eyes were so raw. Not red and swollen. No, she was not sad. Her eyes exposed her thoughts, wants, and the way she was trying to resist the way he made her feel. Ben could not take his eyes off her. The moonlight illuminated her face as she stood there, her face upturned looking at him, their hearts pumping. They could feel each other's blood pumping through the warm connection of their bond. They were both scared to move. They both swallowed hard. The fuzzy feeling of nerves and anticipation rebounded through the both of them. Their breathing quickened in unison. Ben's large hand rose to meet her soft face again, taking a step towards Rey. Her breath hitched as his hand moved to the back of her head. His face was inches away from hers. Ben looked into her brown eyes, almost black in the dark, searching them. As if asking for permission. His hand clenched her hair a little tighter in anticipation. He had never done this or been this way with anyone.

He was with Luke for the better part of his childhood to his early adolescent years. His uncle taught the Jedi Code to the letter. Then after Kylo Ren was born, Snoke thought females were distractions and thought it made the Sith weak. But now, in the dark with this young woman, his body responding to hers, hers to his, none of that mattered. It all drifted away. She began to press into his body. He let out a sigh at the warmth of her body through her clothes. She fit into the contours of his body, almost like she was made for him. His hand in her hair started to pull her head slightly, forcing her face upward towards his. She slid up his body, feeling his lean muscles through his linen clothes as Rey stood up on the tips of her toes. A sharp shiver ran down her spine, feeling warmth in her abdomen start to pool. She let out a soft, quiet sigh at him. Her soft exhale brushed his lips. He felt her pleasure ripple through him. It hit his body with ferocity. Ben pulled her hair harder as he bit his lip, trying not to vocalize his enjoyment. They were so close to each other, their lips almost brushed. Their hearts were racing. The Force around them was warm as it flowed through them. Their bond rebounding everything back to one another. The feeling of her hair being pulled, the warmth, the pleasure, the excitement, all being doubled back to them. Ben could feel Rey's hand trailing up his body, to edge him closer to her. Her hand moved slowly and tentatively up his back. Her eyes watched his, but he glanced behind her. Their moment now on pause. Her hand stopped midway up his lean back. She sensed it too.

Her head snapped to look behind her. In an instant, her DH-17 blaster was in her hand and pointed towards the dark. They did not see the attacker but sensed a disturbance in the Force. Ben's hand drifted to his back where the infamous lightsaber was tucked away. Hesitating for a moment. If he brings it out, then he will surely be discovered. But if he doesn't, then the cost might be his or Rey's life. That was something he could not have. He would not have more innocent blood on his hands, especially hers. He summoned the lightsaber to his hand, allowing it to slowly drift. He gripped it tight. He could sense through the Force that multiple signatures were lurking in the shadows, watching them. Rey's blaster seemed to follow nothing, but she could sense one of their attackers moving. It is against the Jedi Code to kill, but to disarm and disable is surely appropriate and she knew this. Just then a shot fired off, a red light was hurling towards them. In a fraction of a second, Ben ignited his lightsaber. He waited for the right moment to ricochet it back at the attacker. He tracked it with the Force. It came right towards him, Rey flattened herself against the ship's cold exterior as Ben sought a defensive strike at the blaster round. The infamous lightsaber wielder hit it back in the direction it came from. In the dark, there was a loud yelp of pain and in the same moment a hard thud in the grass.

Rey aimed her blaster low at an unseen target, her hands grasped the blaster's grip sternly. The target settled, waited. But she did not waste time. Her index finger pulled the trigger. The blast rang loudly in her ears as the blaster's round shot out, disabling the target. The ship's doors hissed open, ripping her attention from the attackers. Poe and Finn barreled out the freighter. They saw the burning red lightsaber first. Anger boiled up in the Resistance fighters. Ignoring the oncoming threat of attack, they pulled Rey back into the ship. "Let me go. I have to help. They are attacking us. Let me go!" Rey was screaming at her friends. She needed to help him. She needed him. Her hands gripped the entryway, holding onto it with all her strength. But the two men were stronger than her. Their stronghold around her ripped her fingertips from the frame of the entry. Ben was furious at the sight, watching her being 'rescued' by a defector and a pompous human male from him like he was some animal. The door hissed closed behind them and the ship's engines roared to life. She could have fought harder, used the Force if she wanted to stay with us. Kylo Ren spewed venom within Ben. Betrayal and anger washed over him as a wild wave crashed on the ocean. His grip on the lightsaber tightened as he watched the ship fly off into the night sky. His attackers no longer distracted at the ship beginning to take off, refocused their advances of Kylo Ren. Ben surrendered to Klyo's anger and hurt that someone who he had thought cared about him just left him alone. She had filled him with false feelings in order to achieve her self-serving goals. Kylo Ren internally stretched in the body he had been locked out of. He threw his head sideways as if he had a stiff neck. He snapped his head at the sound of multiple feet hitting the ground with speed.

The attackers rushed toward Kylo Ren. Three human-like forms, silhouetted by the dark, came closer to him. Kylo Ren relished in the fact that he was about to cut them down. The vision of their lifeless bodies was like a drug to him. He loved the feeling. The first to advance him was a female Twi'Lek. Her form was slight and small compared to his own. Her face had a focused expression as her electrostaff swung at him. He took a defensive stance as their weapons clashed. The Twi'lek drew back her staff, whirring above her head. Kylo Ren watched her careless, untrained movements closely. His lightsaber swung upward, slashing the Twi'leks arms and face, leaving her with jagged burns. The female humanoid crumpled the ground before him. Please don't do it, Ben begged from the sidelines as he watched Kylo Ren's thoughts turn twisted and dark. Kylo Ren crept to the injured Twi'lek, writhing in pain on the ground. An evil, sickly smile spread across his face as the female's gaze met his pure black eyes. Her eyes were wide with primal fear. She was going to die and they both knew it. Her comrades blasted warning shots at the ground as he slowly inched his way closer. Kylo Ren did not even bother to look up. He kept his sights on the injured attacker before him, the evil and the contorted smile never wavering. He could feel her heart beating in fright of his face. He loved it. He wanted it to stay like that forever. He raised his lightsaber high above his head, bringing his left hand to the hilt, clasping it rigidly. The burning red blade was pointed at the Twi'Lek, she was sobbing and begging for her life. Kylo Ren took it in delight. He relished in the sight. He took a quick breath as he used his fierce strength and drove the lightsaber towards the scared Twi'Lek.

The lightsaber made a damped swooshing sound as it drove with force toward Kylo Ren's doe-eyed target. The red sword burned through the Twi'Lek's skull. The Sith could feel the weapon burrow through the soft tissue. He started to chuckle at his fresh kill. The smell of burning flesh wafted into Kylo Ren's nose in the still air, he started to laugh harder. Her comrades were frozen in the moment, watching one of their own be executed in front of them. "Nallah!" A male voice sounded from a short distance, still hidden in the dark, but Kylo Ren knew exactly where he stood. He could feel his Force signature, his heart beating with speed. Kylo snapped his head at the voice, he was running towards his fallen comrade. Kylo Ren pulled his sword from the cauterized wound in the Twi'Lek's skull, readying himself for the attack. Two male figures came running out from the shadows, with blasters drawn. The human male fired at the dark Sith, ready for revenge of his fallen friend. Kylo Ren extinguished the sword as he tucked and rolled to the right, away from the attacker's blaster rounds. The Sith rolled back to his feet, crouched in the shadows. The male Zabrak was searching for Kylo Ren, sweeping his blaster along the dark. The human male was close to him. He quietly shifted his weight, stretching his leg out in front of the human, tripping him. At the same moment, he ignited the lightsaber, waiting for the target to fall before him. He drove the sword through the middle of the male's back. Kylo Ren felt the spine crack from the heat of the sword. He twisted the blade, pulling out from the limp body. A shot fired his way from the Zabrak in the distance. His lightsaber met the blaster round, deflecting it back at him. The Zabrak fell with a thump. Kylo Ren's breathing was hard as his chest heaved. Relishing in the deaths of the pathetic excuses of opponents.

His hand slowly rose towards his face, using the back of his dark robes to wipe the sweat. He let his arm go limp, letting it fall back in fatigue. Something shifted off in the distance, he searched for it with the Force as his hand was drawn outward. Kylo Ren felt a lifeform's signature. It was wounded, scared, and trying to hide from him. He slowly stalked towards the signature. The lightsaber in his hand still burned in a tight grip. The tall grass crumpled under his feet as he approached the body lying in the grass. The man laid deathly still, frightened by the horrifying opponent that stalked toward him with a glowing red lightsaber in his hand. The man wore clothes similar to his fallen friends with a badge sewn on the sleeve of his jacket. Kylo Ren identified the bare skull of a mythosaur with downturned horns that curved inward toward the creature's jaw. This man was a bounty hunter, and so were the others that the Sith had just brutally cut down. Kylo Ren extinguished the lightsaber as he knelt slowly onto his right knee, balancing his weight on the ball of his left foot. He stared at the man looking back at him with wide eyes. Kylo's breath had settled as an eerie calm began to wash over him as if what he had just done was mere sport. He had enjoyed it, finding a dark pleasure in it even. You monster, Ben whispered in wake of Kylo Ren's murderous bender. You will never be strong enough, Ben Solo. I know you, I am you. I see your weaknesses. You could have stopped me. You are a pathetic little boy, Kylo Ren retorted back at his internal counterpart, feeling him sink lower within him.

"Who are you,'' Kylo Ren asked, no emotion in his cold voice. The man was frozen before him, unable to speak in fear what the Sith wanted to do with him after he answered. A moment passed before Kylo Ren began to grow impatient. "I asked you a question that I will not ask again." Kylo raised the hilt of the lightsaber to underneath the man's jaw, threatening to ignite it into the soft tissue. The man gulped loudly letting his jaw fall open, exhaling a short breath. "My name- my name is Obran." he let out quickly, slightly stuttering. Kylo sat there for a moment, watching Obran.

"Who hired you, Obran? How did you identify me?" Kylo Ren's lightsaber pressed a little harder underneath the man's jaw as he asked the question. Threatening to ignite the sword if the man-made him wait again.

"We weren't hired. Not exactly. We saw the bounty on you. It is plastered all over the galaxy on the HoloNet. We saw the smuggler girl and her friends walking through town. We noticed their nice clothes and blasters. It caught our attention. Then we saw you step out in front of them. We identified you by the Jedi robes. We did not know if it was you, but we followed you and your friends anyway. If it was you, then we would get paid, if it wasn't then tonight could be written off. But then you brought out the red lightsaber. Then we knew." Obran let out plainly. Waiting to see if the man was going to kill him.

"And is there any recorded evidence of your findings tonight, Obran? Now, answer me honestly. I can tell if you are lying." Kylo shoved the lightsaber harder into Obran's flesh. Kylo Ren could not have anyone else discover him with the one million credit bounty over his head. Fear in the man's eyes. Not wanting to answer. He could see his fate flash before him.

"No, there is no evidence we found you. It was just a hunch." Fear was pounding through him, the wanted Sith Kylo Ren had nothing else he wanted from him. They both knew what his next course of action was.

"Thank you, Obran." Kylo gave a cold tone, satisfied with Obran's honesty. He let the burning red sword cut through the soft tissues and bone. It skewered through his skull. A quick, but sightly death. The weapons light went out as Kylo Ren tucked it back into his belt underneath his robes. By what to dead man had said, the simple clothes had identified him. He glanced down at the lifeless man before him. He appeared to be about his size. He stripped the man of his clothes. Taking his jacket and a ribbed tunic that had long sleeves and a v-cut neck. Kylo Ren laid the stolen clothes on the frozen man's body as he stripped himself of the Jedi looking robe, letting it fall to the ground. The linen vest that he slipped over his head, pulling his arms out of the clothing, exposed a simple tunic. He took that off too. Kylo Ren bent down towards the pile of clothes picking up the tunic. He weaved his arms through, pulling it down over his head and down his torso. Kylo Ren put his old clothes on Obran. He reluctantly placed his infamous lightsaber in the man's hand. Hoping to throw off the scent of anyone who discovered their bodies. And maybe think that Obran was Kylo Ren. If everyone thought he was dead, then life could go on. The First Order would know it was not him. The man's face was still intact. Kylo raised his boot. He slammed a powerful leg into Obran's face. Crushing it, the sound of the bones breaking rung through the silent night. He retracted his boot to see if it was good enough. The man's disfigured face could have been his. It was too hard to tell. He was hoping the clothes and lightsaber would be just enough to cause doubt to whoever found the man. He picked up the jacket and began to walk away from the massacre of lifeless bodies.

Walking down the airstrip, he found a simple ship that had the bounty hunters symbol painted on the side. He had to leave this wretched planet before anyone else tried to attack him. The ship was small but would be enough for one person. It had the ability to jump through hyperspace, sleeping quarters, a small galley, and even a small living area. The cockpit was just big enough for two pilots. He sat down in the worn chair, finding the ignition switch. The dual engines roared to life, vibrating the ship underneath his feet. He did not know where he was going to go but knew where ever it was, it had to be discreet.