Chapter 13

Ben POV:

He stood underneath the belly of the ship as it lifted, fists clenched by his side and throat raw from yelling. He stood and he watched, unable to do anything, as they took her from him. And it had been Finn--the man he had fault in the snowy woods. Finn betrayed Rey.

His heart sunk. He could not imagine how betrayed Rey must have been feeling.

People shouted from behind him. They were screaming, still fighting back against the troopers that had attacked.

But Ben stood still, glaring at the stormy heavens above him, where only moments before, Rey had been snatched. Around him, First Order ships were taking off into the sky, leaving behind a broken army, the broken Resistance.

Someone shouted behind him. This time, he turned. "Ben!" It was his mother.

He swallowed hard. "They took her. Finn took her. He betrayed us. He betrayed Rey." Licking his lips, he met his mother's eyes, heart thumping. "I need a ship."

"Ben, the attack. I need you here. Safe."

"Rey isn't safe! Look, General, I know where Finn is taking her. I can get there. All I need is a ship."

Leia's brows furrowed as he spoke. "Finn? Finn didn't take her, Ben. He's over there, helping to get the wounded into medical."

Ben pursed his lips, shaking his head. "No," he said roughly, "I don't believe it."

Leia smiled, a small sad smile that made Ben's heart ache. "My son, it was not Finn."

"I won't believe it until I see it." Ben marched away then, back to the wounded, back to the building. He had to see for himself. He had to see for himself what he already knew, deep in his mind.

He thrust opened the door to the mess hall, and the stench entered his nostrils. Something broke in him as he stepped around the blood. Around the bodies. And there, in the far corner.

Finn. Just as Leia had described him.

Ben turned. He had seen enough. He knew what to do, where to go. And deep in his heart, he knew exactly why. They shared a connection--him and Rey. It was how he had come to . . . care for her.

Ben knew what had happened to Rey He knew why it had happened, too. "Deist, you fool," he spat. "I was always one step ahead of you."

And then something happened. Something that hadn't happened in too many years to count. Ben stopped in his angry tracks as the voice flooded his mind.

He could feel the chuckle, as he had always been able to, though it did not belong to him. It was a deep and rough chuckle, a familiar laugh, that made him clench his jaw, trying to prevent the sound from flooding his ears.

That was years ago . . . Kylo Ren. You'll find I have grown more powerful.

Ben snarled. Please, Nico. Bragging doesn't become a stormtrooper.

There it was again--the deep, dark growl of a laugh, a rumble that Ben could feel in his bones. And then Nico sent the words to him.

You and I both know I'm not a stormtrooper.

•~•

"So you are the girl I have heard so much about," the man in front of her stated, grinning a terrible grin.

Rey thrust her palm against the glass window in front of her, the glass that was keeping her inside the tiny cell and keeping him outside. She would have spit in his face.

"Who are you?" Rey asked gruffly.

"What a broad question. What do you mean? Do you want to know my age, my likes and dislikes, my hobbies?" The man paused to grin. "Surely you have heard of me," the man said, clasping his hands behind his back and leaning into the intercom that was letting them communicate. "No? Well then. My name is Deist--Nico Deist."

Rey did not react. The name did not have any meaning to her. "Tell me, Nico, why a changeling brought me here."

"You're awfully blunt. Straight to the point. I can see why Kylo Ren likes you."

Rey's eyebrows shot up. What did he mean?

"Ah. You are confused. How could a man like me, a mere bounty hunter, know Kylo Ren enough to understand exactly what he likes? How, Rey, could I know him?" Nico's brows furrowed then and his jaw clenched. He was angry. Frustrated.

"Why am I here?" Rey asked, ignoring his question.

"You seem like a smart girl. Surely you already know."

Rey said nothing. Remaining completely silent, she blinked.

"You won't stay silent for long," Nico told her. Drawing himself up even taller, he met her angry gaze. "You are here because there is a war. And war is unfair. People will be tested, pushed beyond their capabilities. There will be casualties. There will be survivors. And there will be a third group--the hostages.

"Rey, this is your life now. This is your home. This will be all you know until an exchange offer is made. You are incredibly valuable to the Resistance. You are a valuable piece in this game--this war."

Rey clenched her jaw. "I am not a prize to be won."

"Until now." Nico smiled, and there--in his eyes--Rey could see the eyes of a man who was intelligent. Of a man who had a plan. "You'll find I know exactly who you are. I know who Kylo Ren is too."

"It's Ben now."

"Lies!" Nico exploded, slamming his hand on the glass separating them. And then, with horrible, dreadful calmness, he dropped his hand to his side and spoke. "Trades must be made in war. And you'll find that I know Kylo Ren far better than anyone ever will."

•~•

Ben snuck out into the night, cloak billowing around him like a sorrowful flag, engulfing him in the darkness. The road he walked on widened, and the puddles of light that spilled from the tall golden orbs grew more frequent as he neared the ships.

Deist. Touch her and you're dead.

The reply came quickly, with no hesitation, as it always had.

I don't fear anything, Kylo Ren. I am certainly not afraid of your bluffs. But you should be afraid. You should be terrified.

Ben laughed and quietly stole into a fighter, slipping into the pilot seat.

You know me. I don't fear anything either.

There was no reply after that, allowing Ben to turn on the ship's controls in silence. He welcomed the silence--a sort of fog that helped him think, even when his heart was pounding loudly in his chest.

He pulled a handle down, turning on the ship, and grasped the controls. With any luck, he would reach Rey within the hour.

The ship slid effortlessly into the air, lifting off the ground and rising into the air. Flipping a switch and settling back into the seat as he entered the atmosphere, Ben glared.

He glared and he thought of all he had lost.

He glared and he thought of all he would soon find.

Hyperspace was more relaxing than he expected. The stars that zoomed past were constant streaks of light as he traveled onward, guiding the ship to its destination. They were pinpointing his path.

Pinpointing his way to Rey.

•~•

Snoke would have grinned, if only he was capable of doing so. No. He was not a man of wide smiles. He smiled through his eyes, projecting his joy, the adrenaline that flooded his old bones, onto the wall in front of him.

He did not look at the floor, at his feet. He did not weaken himself in such a way.

Snoke was joyous. For he could sense Kylo Ren landing on the planet. He could sense Kylo Ren's emotions. He pushed farther, trying to make sense of Ren's feelings.

But there was a wall, a wall purposely placed there by Kylo himself. The Supreme Leader's eyes narrowed, all joy disappearing from his face.

"Bring him here," he ordered a group of stormtroopers. "Tell him I have what he wants."

•~•

When he exited the ship, when he pulled his saber from his belt, he was surrounded. On all sides, forming an impenetrable barricade, were at least two dozen stormtroopers, pointing their blasters straight at him.

Ben grinned. "We're doing this the hard way, then."

And then he attacked. Holding his hand out, he threw three of the stormtroopers backwards. Not even pausing to look where they landed, he spun, slashing his lightsaber and allowing it to connect with the bodies around him.

He spun. He threw. He slashed. . .

. . . But he did not kill.

Ben left the troopers on the ground, wounded, and ran without stopping into the building in front of him. He had one mission.

I'm coming Rey. I'll get you out.

He turned a corner, thrusting his hand out and freezing a trio of troopers in their path.

He could sense her--he could sense Rey. He followed that sense, following it up stairs and down hallways.

And then her answer came.

Don't Ben. It's a trap.

Did they hurt you? What's going on?

There was a pause, during which Ben's heartbeat sped up. Why wasn't she answering? But he was getting closer now, he knew that. Her presence . . . he could feel it stronger now.

I'm bait, Ben. Whatever they say, don't agree. Promise me you won't agree. It was he this time that paused. But then he could hear Rey's voice louder in his mind, as though she was raising it. Promise me!

Don't force me to make those kind of promises.

With that he entered another hallway, down which he ran. He could feel her presence even stronger now. He could nearly hear her heartbeat.

But there was another heartbeat, another soul, another voice.

A man.

Ben ran, thrusting open the door in front of him and skidding to a stop, eyes wide. In front of him, her head being held to the end of a blaster, her shoulders ensnared by the arms of her captor, was Rey.

"Ben!" Was all she could manage. The man, the animal, Nico, pressed the end of the blaster closer to her temple. Rey let out a cry, her eyes watering.

"Let her go, Deist," Ben ordered harshly, glaring at the man.

Nico laughed. "You've grown weak, Kylo. But I've grown strong. I am capable of things--things more incredible than you realize." 

Ben shook his head, inching his way forward as he spoke. "No. I don't believe you. You're just the same."

Nico snarled, pressing the blaster closer onto Rey's temple and turning the safety off. She flinched, struggled against his arms. "You are on their side, now, Kylo. Why?" Ben stepped closer, inching his way with his hands outstretched. Lightsaber tucked neatly on his belt. "Answer me? Why?" Nico roared. 

"I'm on the right side, Deist."

"No. Your morals have been compromised. Have you forgotten what they did to her? Or, is it that you have denied it all this time, allowing yourself to forget?" Nico glared, jutting his jaw out and waiting for a response. And then, when he realized that Ben had no idea what he was talking about, he chuckled. "You don't what I'm talking about. You didn't do your research, did you?"

"I've already told you. I am on the right side. Now, you tell me what you're talking about. What girl?" 

"Ask yourself again. You tell me!" A fire lighted in Nico's eyes then, burning brightly. He glared, blinking hard as his eyes tuned glassy. 

"Whatever they did to this girl, Deist, I can have undone." Ben could not help his voice from hitching, blossoming with emotion. "Now, please, let her go." 

Nico paused, as though contemplating it. He looked between Ben and Rey, thoughts churning. But then he snarled, lip curling. Eyes glaring. "No," he spat. "I don't think you can."

 "I can, and I will," Ben protested. "Let her go. I'll give you whatever you want." 

"Whatever I want?" When Nico laughed, it was a terrible, anguish-filled chuckle. "I want revenge. I want to make you suffer. I want to shoot this woman's head off and watch as her blood spills across the ground. I want you to watch."

Ben shook his head. "No. Tell me what you really want. Something I can give you."

Abruptly, Nico shot. . . 

. . . letting the laser hitting the wall and successfully scaring both Ben and Rey. 

"You're on their side now! You make them give her back!" 

Ben was desperate now. He could fear Rey's pain, her fear, her human terror pulsing toward him. "Just tell me her name, and I will get her back to you."

"Swear to me, Kylo, or I'll blow her brain to bits, right now."

"I swear. Please, just let Rey go." 

There was a click as Nico turned the safety of his blaster back on. But he did not move. His arms did not move from around Rey's shoulders. The barrel did not move from Rey's temple. "Do you love her?" Nico asked, his voice strangely calm. Gone was the man who was shouting earlier. Gone was the man with the anguish-filled cries. 

"We have a deal, Deist. Let her go." 

"Answer me! Do you love her?" Nico's eyes flashed dangerously. 

"Yes!" The word rang around the room, bouncing of the metal walls and sounding loudly in their ears. Ben's heart was beating louder now, pounding hard in his chest. "Yes, I love her, please just let her go."

Nico glared, jaw clenched, and hurriedly pushed Rey toward Ben's waiting arms. Rey half-tripped in her fear, her hands landing on Ben's arms for balance. And then, turning around, her eyes filled with wet, Rey spoke. "We're not done, Deist." 

"No," Nico spat. "I suppose not." 

"I mean it. As soon as you get this . . . woman back, I'm coming after you." Rey's eyes narrowed as she glared. "I won't hesitate to kill you."

"Raz. Her name is Raz." 

Ben would not stay to hear anymore. He had Rey in his arms, that was all that mattered. And so he guided her to the door, his heart beating fast in his chest. She shivered in the air conditioned building, still wearing the dress from the feast. Her back still bare. 

They were almost out, almost at the door, when Nico's voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Remember what I said, Rey. Remember what I told you."

In answer, Rey spat on the floor. 

They did not look back.

*~*

"Supreme Leader, Operation Ainia is a go." 

Snoke stretched his wrinkled face into a twisted half-smile. His lip twitched up. "You were correct in your predictions then, Nico. Everything . . . it has occurred as you believed it would. Kylo Ren, he is taking Rey back?"

Nico grinned, clasping his hands behind his back. "Indeed. He has made the trade. Hostages will be exchanged." 

Snoke stepped forward then, closer to Nico, and did a very strange thing. Almost . . . kindly, he put a hand on Nico's shoulder, a very fatherly gesture for a man so beastly. "The First Order thanks you, Nico Deist. I thank you. Because of you, we will soon celebrate victory. Because of you, we will get her back." 

AN: Goodness gracious! A lot happened here. Predictions, anyone? 

Who is the woman? Why is she important? What is this Operation?

All will be explained in time, my Padawans.

 BUT OKAY LET'S ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO FANGIRL OVER A VERY SPECIAL THREE WORD SENTENCE THAT CAME FROM BEN'S MOUTH OH MY GOODNESS I ALMOST DIED. 

Meanwhile, thank you so much for reading and inspiring me to continue writing. I love you all! 

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