Till there are no stars left in the sky

Part 13

The free fall was exhilarating, adrenaline pumped ferociously coursing through Aurora's every nerve. She would rather feel the fear of the moment then have time to think of the consequence to the decision she had just made. She may never escape this place, and if she did would Skywalker ever trust or want to see her again. She followed her broken connection to find Kylo Ren. He had curled himself up in darkness blanking his mind to avoid detection from the young Jedi hunting him. A small blip pinged in her mind, and she knew his presence all too well. He was near, and he was very injured. As she flung her arm out to grab hold of the next rail she felt her shoulder jar at the impact nearly dislocating it. She gasped as pain ripped down her arm as she clung to the rail and using her legs, pulled herself up on the platform.

Her senses tensed as she felt the man she came to save was about to meet his end. For reasons unknown to her, Aurora felt a deep sorrow at the thought of this man being killed after such a devastating defeat. He deserved a better end than to be chased down like a wounded vermin at the end of its life. She hurried toward the location from which the presence was emitted now second guessing herself with each step. Isn't this what she wanted? For the man who caused her so much suffering to meet a painful and humiliating end? But as she thought about the buried scars deep in his soul that made him who is was, she felt pity for him. He was as lost as she, maybe more. There may be hope for him to heal and turn on The First Order.

As she rounded a long hallway, she saw them. Kylo Ren slumped in a corner in a growing pool of his own blood, and Luke's partner, Rey, nearing him 100 yards in front of where Aurora now stood. Rey marched toward him with her arms tense at her side, sheathed lightsaber clutched in her tight fist. She seemed unaware of Aurora's presence. "I will end you monster," Aurora heard her say as she flicked her lightsaber on. The blade drug across the floor, sending sparks and flying and leaving a gouge of molten metal where it had been. Aurora jogged silently toward them, closing the gap between her and Rey still unsure what she planned to do. She hoped the buzz of Rey's weapon would drown out her slightly audible steps. She needed to reach the girl before she was in striking distance of Kylo Ren. She was still 50 yards from away, but the girl was only a few yards from the already dying man. Panic crept into Aurora's gut. She wasn't going to make it. Rey reached her victim and retracted her blade. 25 yards. Reaching out, the girl lifted Kylo Ren to his feet with a slight movement of her arm. And dug her lightsaber grip into his chest. He winced in pain and coughed, blood dripping out the bottom of his helmet. "You will never hurt anyone ever again." Rey's voice was shaky as she choked on her words. 15 yards. Aurora burst into a full sprint as Rey's final words to the dying man rang out. "This is for Han!"

Aurora rammed the girl with all her momentum as Rey flicked the lightsaber on, sending them both crashing into Kylo Ren who heaved as the air was thrust from his lungs. The blade grazed its target's ribs, no doubt damaging some bone. Aurora grabbed Rey's shirt and threw her back down to hall. "Can't you see he has suffered enough?!" Aurora shouted. Shock took over Rey as she sat speechless, eyes wide in bewilderment. Her mouth moved, but no sound escaped. Her shock gave way to certainty. Her light brown eyebrows furrowed, and her jaw tightened.

"So you are with the enemy now," She finally responded. "They have turned you. I told Luke it might be too late, and this mission was a waste of resources." She stood and reached out her hand. Her lightsaber flew to her open palm, and she clutched it with both hands. "That man dies today. You don't know what evil he has done. You can step aside or join him in his fate."

Aurora was lost. She had no idea what she was doing or why she was here helping this man. Rey didn't realize that Aurora knew very well what he deserved. She had seen the evil he committed with no signs of remorse, but she couldn't help feeling pity for him all the same. He was hurting, and this is the only way he had learned to protect himself from ever hurting again. She looked Rey in the eye, and, without saying anything, reached her hand behind her and called Kylo Ren, lightsaber to her. She flicked it on, determined to stop anyone else from dying. She had seen enough bloodshed to last three lifetimes. "No one else dies today." She said firmly.

"You have made your choice," Rey responded and began walking toward her.

With a battle cry, Rey raised her lightsaber and rushed toward Aurora. She brought her blade down hard. Aurora sidestepped and deflected the blow. She vaulted over Rey, landing behind her. Rey spun around and lashed out with several strikes, pushing Aurora back. Good. She thought. I need to get her away from him. Aurora parried each of her attacker's blows as they moved down the hallway. When they were fifty feet from Kylo Ren, Aurora felt she could move on the offensive. She raised her saber for an attack, and Rey shoved her hand out, throwing Aurora flying with a hard crash on her back. Rey turned and sprinted toward Kylo Ren, who still sat in the same pool of blood. Aurora sprung to her feet and reached out to the girl and pulled, yanking her back toward the fight. Realizing she must remain between her attacker and her teacher, Aurora hurdled over the girl who lay on the floor, narrowly missing a swing of her bright, blue blade. Aurora went on the offensive again and swung down at the girl who rolled to the side and kicked Aurora's legs out from under her. Now, both on their backs, they both rolled quickly to their feet. Back to square one, Aurora thought. She was grateful for her training now more than she had even been, but Rey was very skilled. She moved with such fluidity and precision that Aurora was struggling to keep up. She seemed to begin her next movement before she finished the current one.

Rey lifted her lightsaber high and brought it down swiftly to be stopped by Aurora's blade, leading to a power struggle. Aurora pushed with all her might to keep her own blade from slicing her own neck. She braced her feet and lunged toward her assailant, shoving her into the wall behind her. The scavenger answered with by slamming Aurora into the opposite wall. They turned, now facing the hall, still in a weapon lock. Aurora saw her moment and threw her hand out to push the girl from her, but Rey must have had the same thought as she met her with a push of her own. They were locked in a Force push struggle when both lost control at the same time and were knocked on their backs. Aurora rose to see strong determination in her opponent's face as she rushed forward. "No more games!" she yelled as she released a series of quick, strong blows that Aurora just barely was able to parry. Aurora was now fighting for her life. They entered another weapon lock, and Rey punched Aurora in the nose, grabbed her lightsaber, and kicked her. Aurora was unable to hold on to her weapon and was knocked on her back. She struggled to catch the breath that had been kicked from her lungs as she held her chest. Rey stood over her and raised her lightsaber once more for a killing blow. The blue light glowed brightly. Aurora, still clutching her chest, knew she would not escape. She did not have enough energy for another throw. Rey brought the blade down with a yell. Suddenly, a large blurry object slammed into her, sending her flying back. Aurora rolled on her side to see Rey lying next to a large cargo crate twenty feet away. Both lightsabers were on the floor near where Aurora lay. She struggled to her feet and noticed Rey still lie unmoving. She looked behind her and saw Kylo Ren had risen to his knees and was slumping back down, exhausted after expending his last energy into that throw. Aurora stumbled over to where the lightsabers lay. She bent down to pick them up, her opponent still lying face up, chest rising and falling gently. She must have been unconscious.

"Kill her," the masked man said between jagged breaths from behind her. "Kill her now."

{xWz