Star Wars Redemption #3: Return Home

Chapter 7: Explosion

That morning, when the sun came up, Ben suggested they go into the forest to practice their lightsaber skills.
"You haven't shown me your new lightsaber yet," he said, feigning lightheartedness.
"I just finished it last night," Rey replied. "I wanted to wait until we had a chance to practice to show you."
Ben could tell something was wrong. "Are you feeling alright, padawan?" He reached out to touch her forehead, but Rey jerked away.
"I'm fine. Just bad dreams," she said. Ben's brow furrowed, but he didn't push it. They parted to grab their sabers and met up at the hangar, neither saying much as Ben flew the Interceptor to their favorite part of the forest.
As soon as Ben stepped out of the ship, he felt as if something bad was about to happen. The air was different somehow, heavier and hotter than the last time they were here. He glanced at Rey to see if she felt it too, but she was too busy untangling the hem of her dark robe from a small plant that grabbed at it.
Ben wished he could protect her. He knew if he told her about the call from the First Order, she would want to go, but it was impossible. The Resistance would shoot them out of the sky at the first sight of the TIE fighter. If the First Order caught her deserting, it would mean death for both of them. And Ben himself- could he possibly go with her? How could he possibly fight the Resistance when she was on their side? But he had delayed it long enough. Ben knew he had to tell her the truth.
"Rey, the First Order called me early this morning," he began. "They found the Resistance on Kef Bir. They're on their way now, but they want us to help them destroy the base."
"We're going, aren't we?" Rey said.
"The First Order is expecting us," Ben said gently. "We might be able to get out of going, but there's no way we can help the Resistance."
"Why not?" Rey said. The air grew thicker and heavier.
"Well, for one, we're flying a TIE fighter. Even if we tried to warn them ahead of time, they would just shoot us down thinking we're from the First Order."
"Maybe you're not willing to stand up against the First Order, but I am." Rey tried to push past Ben, but he stopped her.
"There's nothing we can do. It's a suicide mission!"
The earth rumbled beneath them. Rey's eyes seemed to glow with anger underneath her hood. "Let me go Ben. I'm leaving."
He tightened his grip on her arm. "I can't let you."
"I said let me go!" Rey shouted, wrenching her arm away from him. Ben sensed something behind him and turned, noticing for the first time through the trees the volcano smoking and rumbling in the distance. Rey followed his gaze and spotted the volcano just as it revolted, spewing molten lava and ash into the air.

"You've changed, Rey. Don't you see? Your parents never would have wanted this."
"You know nothing about my parents! Nothing about me!" Rey spit back at him.
"Bringing you here was a mistake. I'm sorry Rey."
"I'm sure you are!" she said, circling him. "The First Order and your reign over it, it's all over. I have become more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of, and I can finally restore peace to the galaxy."
"What would Leia think of you now?" Ben said, ash beginning to fall like snow, so thick the sun was nearly blotted out.
Rey took out her saber and ignited it, the red glow of dual blades illuminating the darkening forest. "I guess we'll find out." She flicked her wrist and the blades separated, moving opposite to each other to form a double-sided saber. She stepped towards Ben. "Are you going to let me past?"
"I don't want to fight you Rey," Ben said, stepping back. Rey advanced, holding her lightsaber only a hair away from the first scar she had given him so long ago in their first fight. He flinched.

"Then you're no better than Luke." Rey turned and climbed into the Interceptor, powering it  up and leaving him stranded in the forest. Ben watched as the TIE disappeared behind the ashy clouds and began the long, treacherous journey back to the castle.

This was his fault, he thought as he ran. He never should have ignored that darkness he saw that day in the forest. Ben gasped for breath as the air grew hotter and  hotter. His lungs filled with ash and his eyes stung so he could hardly see, but still he ran as fast as he could. He had to go after her. He had to save her, save her from herself.
Ben stumbled and fell, tripping over an unseen root. He rose slowly, painfully, to his feet, unable to stop coughing. The forest ahead was full of smoke. Ben could see the castle in the distance, but whether the tears that blurred it were from smoke or for Rey he couldn't say.