#anakin pretends to be above it all but he goes with padme and lets her pay for his olaplex

[stinkythehutt]

where do you think the jedi get their hair cut… can’t tell if it’s funnier for them to have an internal salon at the temple or to go out and get it done someplace. do they get a discount during the war??

[jenniferladybug]

Essay Wars - it’s a doozy

Last night my friend got in a texting debate about the story structure and character developments of Star Wars (a majority of it Kylo Ren). Well, what started off as my vigorous texting writing turned into full-blown essay responses. 

Alright, let’s get into how this actually happened.

First, I was so excited about The Rise of Skywalker Final Trailer and I began to sing praises for Kylo Ren/Bendemption. My friend did not like that...so I whipped out the big guns. 

I began to send scattered texts about certain things, mostly pertaining to:

Kylo Ren was turned to the dark side before he was even born via Bloodline, where Leia describes a dark presence over her womb.

Someone must be impersonating Darth Vader when Kylo goes to the Vader mask for advice.

Leia and Han were emotionally neglectful/did not know how to raise their son in the right way, mixed with brainwashing lead to Kylo Ren.

The Jedi are not good for the galaxy (yes, yes I know, but see my explanation down below...if you last that long)

Kylo wants to let the past die and start fresh with a new ‘order’, leave behind the Sith, Jedi, First order etc.

I also rambled on about a few other things in separate texts, but that is the gist of it.

So, in response to my scattered texts I received this from my friend Sammy, and oh boy was I ready:

So, let’s start with the story of Ben. The dark side since before he was even born thing is interesting and the fact that he’s been influenced his entire life by it is something they should have made much more clear in the films. That’s actually one of the problems I have with this new expanded universe- it just seems like damage control for the movies. The Previous EU EXPANDED everything, giving backstory to the characters we know and understand, in addition to secondary characters. Hell, they even gave us new characters as well but they never negated or changed the meaning of the films which is the bread and butter of the franchise, so if this super important info is coming from the book I think that’s just silly. You really shouldn’t have to read the novel iteration to understand what the movie did a bad job of interpreting. But I digress, that is some crucial info…

The Vader mask scene and the theory that it’s someone else like Snoke who has been pretending to be Vader is interesting, and I buy that, but like…Kylo didn’t know Vader was redeemed? Did Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, Lando, Akbar, Wedge, or like literally anybody else form the Rebellion forget to tell him that? Big yikes.

IMO, feeling “misunderstood and neglected by his parents” isn’t a valid excuse for him to kill his own dad and being ok with his mom getting bombed to hell. Idk, you can ask why it’s ok for us to forgive Vader through his redemption arc but I think comparing his experiences to Kylo’s is like comparing apples to oranges. Vader was a BAD guy, but he ended up doing the ultimate GOOD thing in the end, and then the prequels fleshed out how he became bad intangible way, which to be fair, Kylo doesn’t have. But still, this is why most fans don’t take him seriously.

About the Jedi not being good- I challenge your credentials. “For a thousand generations the Jedi knights have been the guardians of peace and justice for the Old Republic”, then they were hunted down and everything turned to shit. And both in this canon and the previous one, it’s wildly considered that the few thousand years preceded the events of the movies things were super peaceful all things considered when the Jedi were in charge…and the Sith traditionally only operates in agents of 2. So how come everything was so peaceful for a thousand generations when there were a million Jedi and 2 Sith…ying yang in this case is bollocks.

And if Kylo really wants to “Start fresh”, why’d he start by becoming Supreme Leader of like the Star Wars version of ISIS? This is something we’ll need to find out in this next movie. I agree, his motive is to dismantle the Jedi and Sith way and create something else entirely, but the second Rey says “nah” he goes back to how he was. It’s not looking good.

The George Lucas rhyme thing lets not forget he’s talking about Episode 1 which was arguably one of the worst Star Wars movies made and he ended it with “hopefully it’ll work” and then grimaces…IDK bud lmao. And I doubt back in 1977 he knew there was going to be an episode 9 because he didn’t even know what he just made was Episode 4! It definitely was never a 9 episode arc from the get-go. Now, I know for certain after the prequels he had another trilogy in mind, and when he sold the rights to Disney he did hand them his drafts and notes, but even Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, admitted in his new book, they didn’t follow those drafts AT ALL. LIKE NOTHING. And he said that George felt betrayed. This idea of a new trilogy is something that was created in 2012, but I suspect they have been making this up as they went. After this last movie, Disney scrambled to get JJ Abrams back and figure out how they were going to get everything back on track. Daisy Ridley herself said JJ wrote a story for each of the 3 new movies, but Rian ended up created his own completely. I think that alone shows that production for these movies has been inconsistent, I don’t buy this was all part of some 9 series plan with a definitive beginning, middle, and end from the get-go.

Not sure what Rey’s lineage is, we’ll find out for sure in this next movie. I read one theory that Palpatine created her sorta through the force like many people think he did with Anakin.

So that was what I was up against.

Let’s take a brief moment to appreciate this:

Okay now that that is done...great. 

My turn! 

Now, I wrote my response (copied below) at top speed in about an hour, so maybe some of the things I say start sounding rushed or not as fleshed out as they should be. But I cracked my knuckles and gave it a go:

I am the first one to advocate for a film to have the ability to ‘stand-alone’ in any particular universe, whether it be Marvel, DC, Hunger Games, and Star Wars. By introducing a backstory for Leia’s pregnancy and hers and Han’s marriage in ‘Bloodline’, LucasFilm is doing just that: giving a backstory. In both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, there is proof that Snoke is the one pulling the strings when it comes to young solo. In the first film, Leia is quoted saying to Han, “There’s still light in him I know it! No. It was Snoke. He seduced our son to the dark side”, and in the second film Luke is quoted as saying, “Snoke had already turned his heart”. It is made apparent that ‘Kylo Ren’ is the production of Snoke, and Ren suffers abuse both mental and physical from his master. Though this changes when Kylo finally becomes free of the shackles Snoke once had on him when Ren slices him in half. The look of shock and release on Ren’s face when he realizes what he’s done says it all. Who are we to judge someone who is freshly out of the control of their captor? By just watching the films it is clear that Kylo Ren is not fully in control of his actions and he is being manipulated consistently as shown by the quotes above. When having that manipulation in conjunction with the neglect of a parental figure, then you get the full-blown reality that is Kylo Ren.

Feeling “misunderstood and neglected by his parents” is a valid excuse for turning to the Darkside in the world of a fictional fairy tale. Keep in mind we are not in a reality where this is okay, yet the world in which Star Wars exists allows such things to be redeemable and explainable. Take for example when Padme knew about Anakin killing younglings; she wanted him to still come home because she ‘loved’ him. If he had turned back to the light at that moment she would have most likely accepted him back. It is a danger of the force. They are not dealing with everyday normal emotions; the force, as well as the genre of the franchise, creates a heightened sense of urgency which is apparent throughout the forty-plus years Star Wars has been around (hell, as long as any fairy tale has been around). When you point out that Vader did the ultimate good thing in the end, do you mean to save his son and push Palpatine down a duct? If so, then this would be his redemption which occurred in the last of the original trilogies. If you are to treat Kylo with the same rules as Vader, then we must give him a chance to ‘do the right thing’, something which the filmmakers have been steadily building his character-arc for. Vader did numbers ‘wrong’ things, some of them much worse than Kylo has done. But yet the audience still chose to respect him, even before the prequels which fleshed out the story of Anakin Skywalker.

Now, you may be correct in that Ben Solo knew of Vader’s redemption, and I misspoke, to which I am sorry. He, in fact, learned of his heritage when he was training with Luke at his academy when he received a letter from his mother. The contents of the letter are unknown, though it is assumed she told him of his heritage when he was in his late teens. This was only because one of her rivals she was campaigning against in the senate threatened to leak the knowledge to the public that Leia was the daughter of the infamous Darth Vader. Ben had no idea before-hand though, so once again we assume that this had some type of impact. Imagine finding out your grandfather was Hitler. Would that be fun? But, since we addressed the fact that external material should not need to be consumed in order for a film to make sense, then we should disregard any idea as to how Ben Solo came to learn of his heritage. It is not mentioned in the films, but it is a widely held belief by many in the fandom that if Kylo Ren knew of his grandfathers’ redemption then he merely took this as a lapse in judgment in his late years (especially since it is hinted to in the films that Ren is speaking to someone via the Vader mask). Perhaps said mask has been telling Ren lies in lieu of the true story of the redemption. But that is speculation. What is not speculation is the line Ren utters in The Force Awakens, “Forgive me. I feel it again... The pull to the light... Supreme Leader senses it. Show me again... The power of the darkness... And I'll let nothing stand in our way... Show me... Grandfather... and I will finish... what you started.” What we can tell from the film is that Ren is in a constant struggle to stay within the dark, and through his words, it is expressed how this warrants forgiveness. The second half of the statement is even more worrying in the fact that Ren says ‘show me again’, referencing a previous time this ‘Vader’ has shown him what the darkness entails. Will we find out in episode nine if there was an imposter (Palpatine?) feeding more lies and brainwashing to Kylo Ren? That means not only was he getting terrible treatment from Snoke, but from his ‘grandfather’ as well. Perhaps this is why in the final trailer for episode nine we see Rey and Ren destroying said helmet. Until the film comes out, this will still be a mystery.

In coming to why I believe the Jedi are bad, I side with Luke Skywalker on this one. As he says in The Last Jedi, “ At the height of their powers, they allowed Darth Sidious to rise, create the Empire, and wipe them out. It was a Jedi Master who was responsible for the training and creation of Darth Vader.” To that, Rey points out that it was also a Jedi who saved him. Which is true! Yet, the rules surrounding the Jedi order are such that allowed for Anakin to search elsewhere for support. True, he was very conflicted, but the Jedi are so extreme that they do not welcome outside opinions or thinking. You are either all light or you’re bad. There is no intermediary. That is why the answer is grey Jedi. I know those exist, and what needs to happen is a yin and yang between the light and the dark. Working together fosters acceptance and love within the galaxy. Even the symbol in the pool of the Jedi Temple in which Luke tucked himself away had a figure in a yin and yang pattern. “Powerful light and powerful dark...a balance”. Yet, any dark whatsoever that the Jedi see they stamp out.

When Anakin says, “If you’re not with me, then you’re against me”, Obi-wan responds with, “Only sith think in absolutes!”. Well, can you see the issue there? Obi-wan is also thinking in absolute. Using the word only further segmented and cast aside Anakin, by labeling him a lost cause. Such a similar thing happened with Kylo Ren and the incident with Luke at the Jedi Academy. The momentary lapse which Luke expressed to Rey was the tipping point. In Ren’s eyes, even his Master saw him beyond saving. And since everyone around him insists on thinking in absolute, then he must be bad according to them, right?

Slowly, Ren is beginning to realize there is another way, something not presently defined within the Star Wars universe. It is not Sith, it is not Jedi, it is not the First Order: it is the ‘new order’ which he proposes to Rey. Yet, he is not ready for redemption yet. The entire point of the scene was for Rey to realize that Kylo Ren cannot be saved by anyone but himself. This is a very powerful message and I am quite looking forward to seeing how his self-realization occurs in Episode Nine. Now, keep in mind that he had banked everything on Rey saying yes, and in his mind, she is “Still. Holding. ON!”, which she is, and he is right that it is holding her back. How can you expect someone from a family of yelling, angry people to get it right the first time? In fact, Adam Driver had to ask Rian Johnson if Kylo Ren had ever kissed a girl before. Kylo is not experienced in this ‘love’ world. He did not receive much love language from his absentee parents, so the only relationship he’s known for most of his teen and adult life is that of Snoke and General Hux. At that moment in which he wakes up to realize she is gone is one of abandonment and rejection. He thought he had found his match, the answer to his loneliness, and she snapped his lightsaber in two. He is basically throwing a grownup temper-tantrum, which is blatantly apparent in the standoff with Luke. When Kylo threatens everything, even ‘destroying’ Rey, Luke claims that everything Kylo says is “a lie”. It is clear in the last few moments of the film when Kylo is defeated and on his knees holding his father’s die that the audience begins to realize his anger was all a facade. In that shot, he is merely a lost and lonely boy realising the path he has chosen is wrong. The final force-bond between Kylo and Rey exhibits every one of those notions. There is no anger in his face, not very ‘destroy-ee’ of him, and he looks up with her with an almost longing. But when she sternly shuts the door on him, once again he is left alone, the die slowly fading from his gloved hand.

If that doesn’t sound like poetry then I don’t know what is! George Lucas was quoted saying in the behind the scenes of the prequels, “You see the echo of where it all is gonna go. It’s like poetry, sort of. They rhyme.” Similar themes and sequences occur within the franchise, and they have kept that alive at Disney Lucas Films, especially in regards to the parallels drawn between Anakin/Padme and Kylo/Rey. They even designed their respective costumes in a similar fashion. Kylo has his mother and father’s anger and stubbornness. They had a rough idea of where it was all going to go. And in regards to JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson, JJ Abrams was an executive producer on Episode 8 and had a say in the general outline of the plot. JJ had set up the relationship between Kylo and Rey in The Force Awakens, and Rian continued along that path. He followed the skeleton needed to get the plot from 7-9. But think about it, Disney would not allow Rian to just veer off the path completely. Yes he had some creative license but within parameters. Sometimes I don’t think people understand the workings of a large corporation with creative decisions. On a project like Star Wars there is always input from the higher-ups. In addition, JJ Abrams auditioned potential Kylo Ren actors with the script from Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy of course). This is made clear in the writing decisions and parallels which have been made for that particular character.

Lastly, would you really want George Lucas at the helm of this new trilogy? People thought the prequels were terrible and Lucas went back and digitally altered the originals against the will of fans. He is not technically the best when it comes to scriptwriting (Exhibit A: “I hate sand, it gets everywhere!”) Also, Mark Hamill was interviewed in the early ’00s and said, "You know, when I first did this, it was four trilogies. 12 movies! And out on the desert, any time between setups...lots of free time. And George was talking about this whole thing. I said, 'Why are you starting with IV, V and VI? It's crazy.' [Imitating Lucas grumble,] 'It's the most commercial section of the movie.'” Yes, the first film was a stand-alone, since they had no idea they would receive any further funding. But then the immense success allowed for Lucas to develop the franchise further.

What I think people tend to forget is that Star Wars is a fairy tale, and it is not supposed to be about ‘a mass murder’ who is going to jail. It is supposed to be about redemption at its very heart. George Lucus had expressed that he intended Star Wars as a series for “twelve-year-olds”. This explains things like Jar Jar Binks and other bizarre choices he has made as a creator. Though this explains a lot of why most of the people who hate the franchise now are angry adults online who live in an overly politically correct world judging a fictional character who is in the middle of a character arc. As JJ Abrams had said in the director's commentary of The Force Awakens, “We looked at it like […] a fairy tale. What are the elements that you’re going to see that makes it this genre, this specific genre? […] You’re probably going to have a castle, and a prince and a princess, if you’re looking at a fairy tale. We wanted to give these fundamental, not cosmetic, but prerequisite elements.”

Okay, I’ve talked too much. I am going to end it there for now. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Haha hope that was entertaining and that sparked some thinking and inspiration. I know I let my keyboard run away from me and please excuse the odd typo from time to time. Let me know your thoughts.

I mean just look at that beautiful man.

Love you all!

[forcebaby732]

Why Didn’t You Kill Me, Part 6

“Where are you going?”

Rey calls out, but she gets no response as Kylo Ren retreats to his personal ship.

Along the way he summons his saber which comes soaring over the cliff it was kicked over. His body is rejuvenated but he’s never felt so weak.

He punches the button to recall the ramp, slamming the door in Rey’s face as she had once done to him.

Outside, a thoroughly confused Rey, huffs, hands on her hips. What in the world?

She’s carrying her pack that Ben left behind in the cave.

Rey sits cross-legged before the shuttle and her stomach rumbles. She figures, she may as well take the time to eat and think, pulling rations and water from a compartment in the bag.

Rey can tell that Ben is running away from what happened, whatever that was, fleeing from her like he did when she first breached his mind on star killer base. She gets comfortable. She’ll wait for him to emerge, saying a prayer that he doesn’t just blast off right here and now without her.

…

The day had started well enough for Kylo Ren.

He had awakened first.

A deeply curious and intellectual creature, he had poured through those texts, their pages ancient and delicate. The dialect was difficult to decipher but was similar enough to his teachings at the Jedi academy that he could power through it.

He devoured its contents, surprised that the original intent of the mastery of the force, was more open and complete than what it would become. The emphasis was on the whole… the light and the dark embraced together…

It only reinforced what he already knew to be true. It solidified his stance that the Sith, and the Jedi, and the rebels all needed to die…

Speaking of rebels… he was sure the beautiful but battered quasi-Jedi laying beside him would survive. He could feel her heart beating. That she was not dead was an intense testament to her power. He marveled at her strength, admired the vicious grit she had shown in her defiance of Snoke, in slaying the Praetorian guards, in defying him…

He frowned and looked back at the books.

She didn’t deserve his good will. Not after declining to rule the galaxy with him. After abandoning him, too weak and sentimental to slay him, leaving him in a position of power he never wanted for himself alone…

When she woke he reveled in her delirious and surprisingly loud thoughts. She was too injured to realize she was telegraphing some pretty interesting intel – that he knew she’d never admit to with her full faculties about her.

He let it swell his ego, but he knew they had important things to accomplish if he didn’t want to have to murder her. He chose to ignore it and get them back on track.

He had not anticipated what would happen with the healing technique he learned about… but he was desperate.

Not only had it healed their physical wounds, but it had given her unfettered access to every painful memory that had wounded his soul and poisoned his heart. Before he realized it... she was already inside...then there was the flash of light. He was flooded, left so drained and weak that he nearly drowned. 

Kylo Ren grasps a console with shaking hands. The memories that were once the source of his powerful rage felt dulled… not only that…it felt like a black veil had been pulled back from his eyes. He was suddenly awash with memories -- repressed and twisted memories that were now clear -- painfully clear, unbearably pure, heart-wretchingly unaltered.

Not only did he recall his parents’ worried whispers, but Han’s piloting lessons, Han ruffling his hair in pride... not only his violent outbursts, but his mother holding him after his tantrums, soothing him, promising to always love him… IT HURTS TOO MUCH!!

Everything he had hidden away in little compartments in his mind were raw and wretched open.

What had she done to him? He gasped as rare tears fell from his eyes. He couldn’t do this, he had to focus on something else.

He pings the com in his ear. “Hux!” Comes his high, trembling voice. He schools himself quickly. “Hux, report.”

If he hadn’t been so distracted, he would have noticed Hux’s nervous reply,  “Supreme leader, a moment, yes, Supreme Leader, how may I serve you?”

“Give me a full report. What requires my attention?”

Hux dives into their latest movements in a number of military pushes, most systems are turning themselves over while others have put up a fight. Hux sends action reports to Ren’s data pad. The Attendants want to talk about the next phase of their domination plans. Repairs on the Supremacy and all its on board industries are on schedule…

“And the rebellion?”

“An insignificant rabble who all systems are refusing to aid. Latest intelligence is that they’ve made contact with Bespin. The system is being monitored. If they arrive, they’ll be destroyed”

There’s a strange pang in Kylo’s chest.

Hux adds gingerly, “Is there progress in your… negotiations?” 

Before he can think up a response, Ren simply ends the transmission. Time was running out, he was sure the cunning Hux was using this unsupervised time to some devilish end… he needed to return and command with authority…but he was feeling anything but powerful right now.

----

Hux breathes a sigh of relief. 

Behind him stands a collection of fellow generals - including a dozen in holo-displays. They have just finished watching the records from the elevator. The tender whispers between their Supreme Leader and the wretched scavenger Rey had elicited some satisfying gasps from the gathered military leaders. And not only that!

Some very interesting news was gleamed from Snoke’s personal records.

Kylo Ren, Master of the Knights of Ren and Supreme Leader of the First Order... had one other very surprising secret title.

Ben...Solo... son of Rebellion General Leia Organa. The same Leia who had escaped thanks to her son’s supposed incompetence on Crait... or was he actually protecting them?

The generals are convinced and have signed off on a plan to end this unnatural reign in the most palatable, marketable way possible. A triumphant cruel grin plays across Hux’s thin lips.

“Thank you kind gentlemen for your courage and action in this most grave matter. We’ll move the destroyers away. Bring in the black-ops with the weapon.”

---

On board his shuttle, Kylo Ren has emerged from his refresher, donning a clean black tunic, his arm bands and a new, non-tattered pair of leather pants. The scalding hot water has done little to clear his head.

He’s moving out into the small sitting area when he hears it...

Mechanical breathing somewhere behind him.

He spins around but it’s gone.

Then it’s there again...and the faint cry of Anakin.

Ren spins again, “Who’s there?”

In the corner of his eye he sees a blue haze...a wizened old man in Jedi robes stands before him with an ethereal glow around him.

Kylo takes a step back, his eyes wide in shock. His mind races but he knows what this must be. He’s heard enough of Luke’s stories to know that this has to be a force ghost.

“Who are you?”

“An old friend of your grandfather. And your name sake, apparently,” the old man says warmly with a smile.

“Kenobi...” Ben whispers.

“Yes, we’ve been trying to reach you Ben. But it wasn’t until young Rey purged the darkest blockages in your soul, that we were able to get through.”

“What do you want dead Jedi?”

This brings an ethereal chuckle from Obi-wan.

“You’re a stubborn boy. Yet clever. Full of fearsome vengeance, yet that hero’s heart inside of you refuses to die. The force rages in you heir of Skywalker. I’m here to help.”

Ben scoffs, absorbing what he’s hearing but keeping his emotions even.

“I have no need for the dried up wisdom of a dead hypocrite. Thanks to me, you’ll all be ghosts soon.”

Obi-wan considers this and seemingly takes a seat on a black bench.

“Hmm,” he says rubbing his beard, “is that why you were performing a rebirth ritual with a very naked Jedi lady friend just a short time ago.”

Ben sputters angrily...”What?”

“Well the technique is also called rebirth, but then, you knew that. Just pretended you didn’t quite read that part correctly, isn’t that right?”

Ben can’t respond. His mind goes blank.

“There is little time Ben, but there is something you need to know. There is a force you possess that both the Jedi and the Sith tried to suppress, it is this power that brings balance to the force, time and time again in it’s own messy way. You and young Rey have the power to make all things right, and teach a new generation of Jedi about this path. A new... order if you will. Does that sound about right?”

“Spit it out old man, say your piece and be gone!” Ben shouts..

Obi-wan shows him instead. Ben is suddenly catapulted into a memory.

A young man, tall, dark and handsome like himself stands before a beautiful and heavily pregnant woman on a platform above a volcanic planet. He watches the scene play out.

“...I won’t lose you like I lost my mother...”

“...Anakin, all I want is your love...”

“...I’m becoming more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed and I’m doing it for you, to protect you...”

“...come away with me, leave this all behind...”

“...together you and I can rule the galaxy, make things the way we want them to be...”

“...Anakin you’re breaking my heart...”

Then another person emerges, accusations are made, he’s strangling the young wife he had just sworn to protect, dropping her and their unborn children to the metal floor.

Ben finds himself kneeling, gasping at the scene before him. Then it’s gone.

“Anakin’s fear of losing Padme twisted his heart, seduced him to seek power, until his love no longer mattered anymore, and he gave himself over to the Sith.”

“You’re mother and uncle were born but their mother died, just as Anakin had foreseen. Only, it was by his own hand.”

“Why are you showing me this?” Ben demands.

“So, you can understand. Love destroyed the Jedi order, it also destroyed the empire when Darth Vader chose to save his son and kill the Emperor. Both the Jedi and the Sith rejected the sentiment, but it’s power is far greater than either order can contain.”

Ben was feeling sick.

“Why isn’t my grandfather here?” He demands, changing the subject.

“He is... in a way. Certain energies, tools of the force, tend to return to the physical world when it is thrown off balance. But it’s so difficult as flesh and blood, so easy to get lost...”

“What are you saying?!”

“Rey *IS* Anakin. Anakin *is* Rey, and you need to help her.”

Stunned silence follows. Ben hears nothing but his beating heart.

“This is a joke…”

“Yoda isn’t here, so, sadly, no.”

More silence as Kylo tries to grasp the absurd things that are being said.

“You tried to help her then too “ ... Ben is shown a vision of Padme, pleading for Anakin to open up to her, “This time, the force has made you equals.”

“I will not listen to Jedi lies.”

“Think on it young one. For now, you have to hurry, there’s not much time, you must flee…”

“Why?”

“Above the planet, reach out and see what your general is doing. You must act quickly and decisively, it comes down to you now, Ben.”

Then a wisp of something floats between them. Ben thinks he sees A scoundrel’s smile, smells a musty scent, feels the pressure of a hand on his shoulder.

Han’s voice, “I’m here son.”

Tears he doesn’t realize are streaming down his face. Ben reaches out with his feelings and indeed, they are about to befall a major “accident” at the hands of Hux. They must escape… TOGETHER… NOW!

The ghosts vanish.

He lights his saber and hacks at a console beside him, this time with purpose.

---

Rey jumps as the ramp opens.

She stands and brushes off her pants, only to feel herself flying towards the shuttle. She’s too caught off guard to react. She soars up, landing with a thud against Ben’s rock hard chest. He secures her with a large arm around her waist, as he chucks broken electronics down below with the force.

“We have to go.”

“Ben!?”

And she’s being slung over his shoulder. He uses the force to hit the button to lift the ramp and jogs with a highly confused would-be jedi to the cockpit, “What the hell… Ben, what’s going on??“ She kicks and reaches down, pinching him hard on the ass!

“OW! CRAZY WOMAN!”

“Put me down!”

He dumps her into a co-pilots chair and begins a launch sequence.

“For the love of… what the kriff is going on Ben Solo? Where are you taking me? Do I have to kill you? Is this another kidnapping?”

“Shut up and prime the hyperdrive or we’re going to die.”

Wide-eyed she looks at him just a moment before deciding this is a real threat. She starts throwing switches as he lifts off… and that’s when she’s sees it… a blinding red streak of energy heading for their location.

“Force help us.”

“Good idea,” Ben says as he punches the thrusters.

Fire and chunks of earth rattle their shuttle, flames licking over their viewport. They’re just about to be overwhelmed when he sends them into lightspeed. They don’t appear as so much as a blip on the First Order scanners.

----

A sweating, nervous Hux stands over his officers, “Did we get them?”

“No life forms detected sir. The shuttle’s beacon is at the center of the blast. There’s no way they could have gotten off world. Targets eliminated sir!”

“Yes!” Hux pulls in his fists allowing himself a triumphant display that is certainly below his station.

He straightens his uniform and walks back off the bridge, where the Attendants are waiting with a golden cloak. They throw it over his narrow shoulders.

----

They’re spinning through space.

Blue and white lights streak past them. They stare at each other panting for a long time.

She’s the first to break the spell.

“Why did they try to kill us?”

“A coup. Looks like you’ll get the chance to help me kill Hux afterall.”

He seems to be taking being unseated as Supreme Leader rather well.

“Won’t they track us?”

“I dumped the tracker and comms. They should think we’re dead.“ 

“Just like that? How can they do this to their own leader… How did you know it was coming?”

This he doesn’t answer, shielding his mind from hers.

There was his trusty anger building again. He relished it after feeling so drained by the events of the spring. It was all her fault, he hadn’t agreed to help her yet, hadn’t decided if he’d keep her alive, those damn ghosts couldn’t control his destiny. But he supposed he was alive because of them… they were alive… for now.

Like it or not, if he wanted his position of power back, he was going to need Rey’s help and this time, he would ensure that she'd never leave his side again.

He knows where they need to start.

“You’ll need a new saber…”

“What?”

“If we’re going to bring the First Order down.”

----

ON Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13990587/chapters/32535867

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Part 1: http://bit.ly/2IdHDTN

Part 2: http://bit.ly/2Ie5q5G

Part 3: http://bit.ly/2oVTDRD

Part 4: http://bit.ly/2HztYF7

Part 5: https://bit.ly/2G8K7RP

Part 7: https://bit.ly/2upJMJa

Part 8: https://bit.ly/2JbkYaW

Part 9: https://bit.ly/2GZFflF

Part 10: https://bit.ly/2HnC9FF

Part 11: https://bit.ly/2HucNsb

Part 12: https://bit.ly/2vt5sED

Part 13: https://bit.ly/2HvMiDH

Part 14: https://bit.ly/2KxOWGN

Part 15: https://bit.ly/2Kt5r6l

Part 16: https://bit.ly/2x5QLYR