Ben Solo

XXIV

"I'm switching over to the main radio, to get some reinforcements from base. You'll be on your own for a bit." Poe switched and Ben's headset erupted into static.

He panicked for a moment, and then centered himself with the Force.

Number one mistake in battle: panic.

Ben fired after the TIE-Fighter.

Two more hummed overhead.

He shot at them.

"Hurry, Poe, switch over," he whispered, glancing around for any more.

As if he had heard, Poe's voice crackled over the radio. "We've got Red Team on their way. We just got to hold out on our own for ten minutes."

"Okay. I've seen three TIE-Fighters."

Then a voice came through his head, but it sounded like someone was near him, speaking in his ear. Ben Solo.

He jerked, which caused his X-Wing to move suddenly.

Poe noticed. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Did you hear that?"

"What?"

"There-there was a voice!"

"It was probably a TIE-Fighter hum," Poe said slowly. Then, he yelled, "Behind you!"

A TIE-Fighter flew overhead. Ben shot it down.

Ben Solo.

Ben gritted his teeth.

He wasn't going crazy, was he?

"Eight minutes!"

Come with me...

Ben shook his head against the voice.

I can give you unlimited power...

"Poe! Just talk to me, about anything. Or tell me how to switch to the main one, just something to occupy my mind."

"Roger, um, see the dials that say radio?"

"Yeah."

"The frequency is 113.6, just adjust the dials until the radio comes through. I'll switch now."

Ben fiddled with the nobs until he hit 113.6 and was relieved to hear voices.

"This is Ben Solo," he announced.

"Red Seven," Poe said, "Glad to see you found it, Ben."

"This is Red Leader. Ben, follow my commands. We'll be there in six minutes."

You will never feel alone...

Ben tuned out the voice and focused on the conversations of the other eight pilots.

"Red Four," Red Leader said, "take Red Two and Red Three and follow in the back. Keep an eye out for TIE-Fighters. Ben and Red Seven, once we break free, go towards the settlement and then pull up, to go the other direction. Red Five and Red Six, follow me in for a low attack on the troop transporters."

"Four minutes," another pilot reported.

"What do we do until you break through?" Poe asked.

"We'll break through at the side closest to the academy. Circle around and hold off the TIE-Fighters as long as you can. And try to see how the civilians are. We don't need any more civilian lives taken if we can help it, but we need to see their current state."

Poe flew low over the village, and circled around again. "They're gathered by the central building. The troop transporters are at one o'clock flying over from the direction we'll be coming in from, about forty feet from the last hut. The whole village is on fire."

"Thank you for the report, Red Seven."

"Two minutes."

"Get in position for us to meet you."

Poe and Ben retreated a short bit over the fields.

"One minute."

Ben shifted nervously in his seat. "Red Seven!"

"What?"

"May the Force be with you."

"And with you, Ben Solo."

Neither of them thought about what could happen to the other, or at least tried not to, pushing it out of their minds.

You could be more powerful than Vader...

Ben shook slightly.

Two X-Wings flew along side.

"Put the plan into action," Red Leader announced.

They did. Ben and Poe flew low over the settlement, and Red Leader and Red Five and Six crossed slightly to the right to take out the transporters.

The two boys pulled up, Poe taking out a TIE-Fighter as they did so.

They flew upside down for a bit, Poe whooping.

Ben was surprised that his friend could be having fun during this battle.

He watched as Red Two shot down a TIE-Fighter.

"Good shot, Red Two," Poe praised.

Red Two grunted in acknowledgment, too focused to answer.

A new wave of TIE-Fighters came in. Ben was too engaged to fully realize that they weren't shooting at him, but at everyone else.

Poe let out a yell as his starboard wing was shot. "This is Red Seven! I've been hit! I'm going to try and land in the field!"

Your grandfather was great...

"Poe! Are you okay?"

"I should be!"

You could be greater...

Ben stifled a scream as Red Four was shot down. The X-Wing fell to the ground, burning.

He didn't have to look to know Red Four wouldn't come out alive.

That could be Poe!  It wasn't, but his best friend could have fallen to the very same fate!

His mind raced.

"Focus!" Red Leader yelled.

The TIE-Fighters streaked away.

"They've retreated!" Red Six yelled.

"Red Seven, get your droid out of your X-Wing and get away from the field. Hide, keep your helmet, and we'll come by to pick you up as soon as we can get a ship to. It may be a little bit, unless you want to walk back to the academy."

"I'll try to walk back. I'll notify you of my position every now and then. BB-8 will give me coordinates."

"Roger. Everyone else, to Dunov. Sorry, Red Seven, we need to leave you here. Ben Solo, do you have the coordinates?"

"R2's got them."

"Good. See you there."

One by one, the X-Wings left the atmosphere and made the jump.

Just before Ben pushed his into light speed, the voice came through again.

You could rule the galaxy.