Ascendant Dust (ARCHIVED & BAD)

Chapter Eight: The Rescue

"You clowns are about to get your ass whooped!" Domi cheers, running to embrace Paige, her betrothed. I breathe a sigh of relief as the fighters shoot down the AT-STs and the troopers. "Well, their reign was short-lived!" I exclaim to Poe as Anakin walks over. 

Poe looks at him in shock. "Is that- are you-" He stutters. "Anakin Skywalker. It's truly a pleasure to meet my replacement." Anakin says cheerfully, sticking out his hand. Poe takes it, still in shock. "Your replacement? No, I could never-" Anakin slaps him on the back in a fatherly way, leading him away as the Resistance prepares to retreat from the battle.

I run back to the Windfall, where my friends are waiting for me. Domi holds Aria close to her as if she's her own child. As I board the ship, I watch the remains of the battalion smoking on the ground. I can see Kylo Ren laying there, motionless. Padme is watching me closely, and I can feel her eyes on my back.  "You know you need to save him. Go do it." She whispers to me. I nod and jump down and rush into the wreckage. 

He lies completely still, half-covered with debris. I brush the rubble away and put my head to his chest. I steady heartbeat thumps there, confirming he's still alive. I stare at his helmet. I need to take it off...

I press my fingers to it and it slides off with a hiss. My eyes widen at the sight of his near-perfect face. His long, wavy black hair falls in ringlets, framing his angular face. His cheekbones are outlined perfectly, his skin without blemish, his nose sharp. I feel myself wishing that he'd open his eyes so I'd see what colour they are.

I snap out of my trance-like state and continue to try and save his life. I grab his broad shoulder from behind and drag him through the ruins. I hear his breathing, steady and strong, as I haul his massive body. Once I've put enough distance between us and the flaming wreckage, I lay him down gently on the soft ground. 

I give him one last glance before putting his helmet at his side. I see his eyelids begin to open, so I sprint away to find cover, only looking back once. I meet his gaze, my grey eyes meeting his honey brown ones in a stare that seems almost... not aggressive?

I run back to the Windfall and feel my friend's hands grab at me and pull me in. "What in the galaxy were you thinking?! WHY DID YOU JUST DECIDE, HEY, LET'S PULL A LUKE SKYWALKER AND TRY TO SAVE AN EVIL DICTATOR?!" Dominique screeches, pulling on her hair. Trayden puts a hand on her arm and stares me down with his intimidating icy blues. "No matter how aggravating she was about it," Trayden says, staring pointedly at Domi, who sighs angrily. "Domi's right. You could have been killed, and all for him? The Jedi-killer? The apprentice to the Supreme Leader of the First Order?" I wave them off and head straight to Padme. 

She's holding Aria as the little girl sleeps with a wistful look on her face. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "I just thought- maybe, I could have been a good mother too." She whisper, gulping. I take her hand and sit next to her. "Of course you would have been. And we're taking you to see your daughter now." She smiles and we hold hands until we land on D'Quar.