Star Wars: The Lost Jedi

Chapter XVII

     Kylo Ren stepped off his command shuttle and onto the snow covered planet. He could sense Serer's presence within the glaciers tunnels and caves. The Resistance forces were here as well, as he could feel his mothers presence among them. Sending his troops to invade the unsuspecting Rebels, he made his way swiftly into the ice covered tunnels of the glacier.

     Serer wandered aimlessly in the voices direction, until it finally ceased. Igniting her lightsaber, she listened to the sound of footsteps from beyond the corner. Holding her lightsaber out before her, she rounded the corner to see a wide eyed Poe Dameron and BB-8. 
     "I might have sliced you!" Yelled Serer as she extinguished her lightsaber while standing before Poe. She could see by the look in his eyes that he was not pleased with her one bit. Her tired eyes could practically see the flames arousing within his.
     "What were you thinking? You were safe at the Resistance Base!" Poe yelled, causing Serer to wince. "You told me you loved me and then left! Serer, I'm supposed to be there to help you through anything, and you shut me out."
     "I only did it to protect you!" Cried Serer.
     "Yes, because having me worry about you and travel all the way here really worked in your favor!" Retorted Poe as BB-8 seemed to roll backwards.
     "You'll never understand why I had to leave, Poe. Never!" Serer shouted back. "You don't know what it's like being hunted for information you don't even possess!"
     The glacier shook wildly as icicles fell between the two. Poe instinctively grabbed Serer to him as a large icicle landed where she had stood. Both looked at each other, knowing that their loud voices hadn't caused it. The sound of TIE Fighters and X-Wings broke the silence from above.
     Poe's eyes finally fell upon Serer's side as she quickly covered it with her hand.
     "What did that?" He asked.
     "Whatever it was, it's dead." Replied Serer, her eyes narrowing themselves.
     "You killed it?" Poe questioned, quite surprised. "But how did you-"
     "We don't have time for this, Poe." Serer whispered as she walked away from him and BB-8. "Fighting over everything here and now won't solve anything in the end."
     "Am I supposed to let you go? Is that what you want?" He stopped walking after her. Poe was hurting, and Serer could hear it in his voice. "Do you want me to go?"
     "Of course I don't want you to..." Serer trailed off as she suddenly felt his presence within the glacier. "You need to go."
     "What is it?" He asked, seeing the look on her face he knew far too well. "What do you know?"
     "He's here, in the glacier. He's in the base."

Ren could sense her fear growing within her, and something else he couldn't quite understand. Igniting his lightsaber, he walked menacingly through the tunnels until he reached Echo Base. She was here, as was the Resistance pilot.
The anger within him seemed to boil to the point where he could not hide it. Holding the lightsaber, he sliced the screens and control panels.
Ren needed her to complete his mission. Ren needed her to to prove his worth. Ren needed her to complete him. Everything he did always came back to the girl. She had much potential and was indeed the key to Skywalker whether she knew it or not. With Supreme Leader Snoke's guidance, they could rule the galaxy and excel in their use of the force together.
He continued searching for the girl knowing that she was within the abandoned base. Time was running short before the battle took place, and he wanted to make sure nothing stood in his way.

"They need you, Poe. You can't let the Resistance down. I'll handle him. I've done it before, remember?" Serer slyly smiled as the the rumbling of the glacier broke her train of thought.
"I can't just leave you to fight him alone! For as mad as I am at you, I love you." Poe responded as his eyes searched desperately for a response from Serer. He couldn't help but love her. They were alike in so many ways, and he just couldn't let a woman of her resistance slip through his fingers.
"I'm just one person, Poe, but I am someone who loves you."
Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, Poe kissed Serer passionately. Their hearts seemed to be aching at the same time, but for different reasons.
"I'll see you back home." Poe stated, his hand gently twirling a piece of Serer's hair. "Don't worry."
"Find Gage, make sure he's safe!" She pleaded as her palm caressed Poe's cheek. "Be careful."
Serer watched his figure turn around as he made his way through the tunnels, BB-8 nervously beeping behind him.
She stood there for a moment of complete bliss. Serer had almost forgotten that there was battle going on. Perhaps that was the last kiss she would ever receive from Poe. Perhaps it would be the last time they ever spoke to one another. This was all her fault. The battle, the fighting, everything was because of her.
Standing tall, Serer ignited her lightsaber and walked in the opposite direction of tunnels as Poe, leading Kylo Ren far away from him. She was going to try, but knew the task would be difficult. Ren wouldn't kill her, at least she hoped.

"I know you're here." Serer shouted as she entered the cave in which the slain Wampa was. "This is the end."
"We have only just begun." The distorted voice spoke as she listened to his lightsaber igniting from somewhere within the tunnel.
Serer ignited her own lightsaber as he now walked into the cave. Her heart seemed to lurch within her chest. Ren was much taller than she, and much more intimidating, leaving her to feel weak.
"It doesn't have to be this way!" Pleaded Serer as Ren continued to move towards her. "Come with us, come with me."
     Ren stopped in his tracks. She was asking him to go with her. He could feel himself drifting to the light, compassion taking hold of his being.
"Serer..." He whispered as his lightsaber seemed to drop from it's high position in the air. "No, I mustn't, this isn't my destiny. Destroying the light and all Luke holds near is."
     "Then come and get me." Serer stated, her lightsaber ignited and prepared for the duel. "I won't let you hurt him."
     The two ran towards each other, their lightsabers clashing as the ice cave shook from the battle outside.

     "We're with you, Poe!"  One of his fellow Resistance pilots spoke through the headset as they all fired up their X-Wings.
     "TIE Fighter ahead! Look alive!" Responded Poe as BB-8 beeped rapidly from the copilot seat.
     Poe was determined to do all he could from the sky to possibly help Serer in anyway.

     Kylo Ren blocked each of Serer's hits, retorting much stronger ones of his own. Serer was not as strong as Ren, almost falling to the icy floor while blocking his strikes. Feeling empowered, Serer tried once again to strike feverishly at Ren, but to no avail.
Twirling his lightsaber, Ren watched Serer catch her balance, her quick breaths forming clouds before her.
     "Why protect someone who abandoned you?" Ren questioned as Serer backed away from him.
"He led me down the correct path." Retorted Serer. "He showed me the ways."
Ren struck at her again, causing her to brace herself as she held off his lightsaber. It was so close to her face that her eyes twitched rapidly at the sparks that erupted from it.
"You need a real teacher!" Ren yelled, "I can show you the ways of the force. His lessons will mean nothing after you have learned all I know!"
Serer pushed up, releasing herself from under the crossed lightsabers, and struck Ren on his arm with the lightsaber.
     He recoiled back in pain as his eyes looked at her in pain and shock. Ren would no longer show mercy. She was to join him, or die trying to resist him.