Star Wars: The Force Awakens Revamped

Chapter 21 - A Renegade's Stand

Back on the Altruist, Leia could feel what had just happened on Starkiller Base. She stopped what she was doing and stepped away from everyone else and headed towards one of the bridge's windows. She placed a hand on her mouth and began to silently weep. Multiple people took notice of the Grand General's change in attitude but said nothing.

"I. . . Excuse me. . ." Leia only said, before quickly leaving the room, her vision becoming waterier as she made her exit.

Bas'tah motioned as if he was going to follow Organa, but Poe stopped the android by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Leave her be." Poe advised.

Bas'tah agreed with a nod before heading towards one of the bridge's windows. Leia's personal quarters consisted of a large white room with a table in one corner, with a beautiful view of Space next to it, a holoprojector, and a bed with white covers on it. The Grand General took a seat and began to openly cry, no longer caring if any passersby heard her.

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At the scene of seeing his crew mate die in front of him, Chewbacca roared again, then took out his bowcaster and for a moment, considered shooting Kylo Ren in the head, but instead aimed for the left side of his lower torso. Once the powerful bolt struck Kylo Ren, he exclaimed and fell to the ground, placing his hand on his bloody wound. He immediately spotted Chewbacca but looked up another level to see none other than Finn, the most wanted man in the First Order's inner circle. The two locked eyes, and Finn could feel the blazing animosity from just Ren's eyes alone. Miraculously, Kylo Ren got back to his feet, still holding his wound, and groaning with every step he took.

Chewbacca roared to Finn and Rey that they were leaving, before gunning down the stormtroopers who'd entered the room with Kylo Ren. Finn and Rey ran out one of the exits located on the level they were on.

Though it was toilsome, Finn and Rey fought their way back to the cisterns. Once they were outside, the cold breeze immediately hit them. The early stages of nighttime were already present. As the two ran ever farther from Starkiller Base, they then heard a loud set of explosions come from inside the base, with fireballs coming out of a building that was most likely the factory. Thick black smoke could be seen rising into the air now.

"The Falcon's this way!" Finn told Rey, who was still looking at the rising smoke.

As they climbed over the ridge, growing even more exhausted, they reached the forest. Rey was still panting, with tears in her eyes.

"I-I still can't believe it. . . how could he?" Rey said aloud.

"Kylo Ren's evil! He lured Han into a trap!" Finn answered her.

The sound of a lightsaber igniting, along with loud crackling caused Finn and Rey to stop for a second, before glancing at one another. They then walked slowly and saw who blocked their path — Kylo Ren.

"We're not done yet." Kylo Ren said.

"You're a monster! How could you?!" Rey shouted, tears running down her face.

"It's just us now." Kylo Ren said, ignoring her question. "Han Solo can't save you."

Kylo Ren then proceeded to beat on his wound, grunting and making strained expressions as he did so. Both Finn and Rey took note of this, with Rey about to shoot him in that exact spot. But before she could, Kylo Ren used the Force to throw Rey against a tree, making her scream in shock.

"REY!" Finn exclaimed.

Rey hit her head against the tree with a heavy thud. She then fell into the snow. Finn darted over to her, dropping his blaster pistol next to her, and putting her head in his hands.

"Rey! Oh no. . . no, no, no, Rey!" He attempted to wake her.

Finn's consoling was stopped by Kylo Ren twirling his lightsaber, which made a loud screeching noise.

"TRAITOR!" Kylo Ren shouted, sending an echo through the forest.

Finn was then reminded of how he was called the same thing by Nines on Takodana. Both men had the same animosity in their voices when they said the word. This time however, Finn grabbed his lightsaber not to defend himself, but for revenge. The weapon gave off a deep low hum. Kylo Ren quickly took note of the lightsaber Finn was using, becoming even more enraged.

"That lightsaber," He started, "It belongs to me!" Kylo Ren stressed, pointing the crackling red-yellow lightsaber at Finn.

"Come get it!" Finn challenged Kylo Ren before charging at him with an enraged shout.

After attempting to swing at Kylo, the two's fight began, with Ren quickly going on the offensive, coming close to slicing Finn several times. Finn then struck at Kylo Ren again, only for the Force user to block both attacks effortlessly. Kylo Ren then went on the offensive again, then throwing all his weight into one final swing, sending Finn onto the snow.

This maneuver led to Kylo Ren's wound burning even more. He turned away from Finn and started beating on the wound once again. Finn got back up quickly, making Kylo Ren face him once more. Finn charged and swung, but instead of Kylo Ren using his lightsaber, he instead dodged nonchalantly, and twirled his lightsaber.

The two locked eyes; Kylo Ren looked as if he were going to say something to Finn but only walked towards him, getting ready to swing.

Finn's eyes were focused on the red-yellow blade more than the one wielding it. Ren began charging at Finn again, unleashing a flurry of strikes until he spun, almost slicing Finn's neck. As Ren did this, Finn blocked another downward strike, but found himself pinned against a tree, with the two's lightsabers locked. Loud crackling and pops emitted from the two blades.

Finn, growing more and more exhausted from the mission, found it incredibly difficult to hold back Kylo Ren's lightsaber that slowly inched towards him. His attention turned to one of the quillons, which was only an inch from Finn's shoulder. A moment later, one of the quillons met his shoulder, making a loud hissing noise as it burned through his coat, and soon, his flesh.

Finn began shouting with his eyes closed, struggling to free himself before the blade could sever his joint. Unbeknownst to either Finn or Kylo Ren, Finn's anguished wails caused Rey to awaken from her unconscious state. Her vision was extremely blurry at first, only being able to see two blurry red and blue shapes teetering towards one another.

Kylo Ren made a move to slice down on Finn. He missed and instead sliced the tree Finn was pinned to. Ren attempted to attack Finn again, only for him to dodge the swing and quickly drive the saber into Ren's wound. Kylo wailed in agony as he fell to the ground.

More blood came from the injury now, painting the once white snow with dark red blood. Ren clenched his blood-soaked hand and got back up to his feet, barely able to stand up straight. Beginning to breathe through his mouth, Finn saw that the indifference on Kylo's face was gone, and now he had an animalistic look in his eyes. Finn charged at Ren, only for them to lock blades again, this time with Kylo Ren using all his remaining strength to twist the lightsaber out of Finn's hands, sending it flying into a pile of snow.

Kylo Ren then punched Finn in the nose, making him turn away. With a twirl, Kylo sliced Finn's back, sending him collapsing into the snow.

Ren began using the Force to reach for the Skywalker saber, intent to finish Finn with it.