My Brother's Keeper

Chapter Six

We make our way to an elevator, trying to get back the way we came, and Uncle Chewie holds out Dad's other jacket which he has been carrying this whole time while I've worn the other. I giggle at Dad's dumbfounded expression.

I'm beginning to think I will have to sneak away and back onto the base, when we finally make it outside, where we see the Resistance pilots in battle above us.

"They're losing," Dad states. "We can't leave. My friend's got a bag full of explosives. Let's use them."

Dad and Chewie go one way, and Finn, Rey, and I go another. Our job is for Rey to get doors open for Dad and Chewie while Finn and I cover her. But I have a different plan.

"Look," I whisper to them, "I had to get away from Dad and Chewie first, but I need to find my brother if I have any chance of dragging his butt back to the Light. Do you need me anymore here?"

"Yeah, no, it's fine," Finn assures me. "I was waiting for you to say something. We saved my friend, now you need to go save your brother."

Rey nods at me. "Thanks for your help, now go save Kylo Ren," she says.

"His name's Ben," I grin, then run off,  following his Force signature.

When I find him, standing on a metal bridge, I can't believe the Dark energy rolling off him. But I also sense a pull to the Light, however small. I have to remember that. That little bit of Light is all the hope I have.

"Ben," I call, out loud for once.

Ben freezes, not entirely understanding at first.

"I'm here, in person," I say. "Ben, please, just turn around."

He does turn, slowly. "I've told you, sister, that is no longer my name. My name is Kylo Ren."

"I'm not calling you that," I sigh. "It sounds ridiculous and you know it."

"You've lost none of your spark," Ben answers. "Here to join me?"

"Nope," I say. "Here for you to join me, in the Light. Come home, Ben. Please."

"No," Ben tells me. He goes to say more, but I interupt.

"You're so selfish," I rant. "All you think about is yourself, Ben. You left me, just like Dad and Mumma did. You were so angry at them, then you left, too. You hypocrite!"

"You don't know what you're talking about," Ben hisses. "You're just a child, Adalee."

"So were you," I say, tears coming to my eyes.

I notice a door far above open and glance up to see Finn and Rey watching us. A couple bridges down, Uncle Chewie stands. That means Dad must be around here somewhere.

In anger, at both my words and our audience, Ben uses the Force to throw me backwards, and my back hits the metal floor. The bridge has no railing. If Ben wanted to throw me over, he could have. I groan in pain, before he uses the Force to pull me to my feet and towards him until we are inches apart.

"I'm sorry about this, but you will join me, Adi," he says softly. "You will join the Dark."

Ben causes the sharp pain in my mind, and I wince, shaking. The pain increases again and again as he whispers for me to join him. It's all I can do to shake my head no.

"I can make it stop, if only you join me, Adi," he coos. "Join me, and we can be a family again. I can finish your teaching, and we can rule the galaxy as brother and sister. I can protect you. All you have to do is join me."

"No!" I cry. The only thing keeping me from falling to the ground is his hold on me. "I won't join you, Ben. I won't."

Even as I say the words, the pain increases again, ten times stronger, seeming to split my soul into pieces. He lets me fall to the cold metal floor, and I hold my head in my hands, gripping at my hair as a scream of agony tears itself from my throat.

"Leave my daughter alone," I hear Dad's voice say evenly.

The pain stops, and Ben uses the Force to throw me up and away from them. Furry arms catch me, and I realize Ben did that on purpose. He threw me to our uncle, many bridges above where we were, knowing I would be safer here. I can't stop shaking, and Chewie holds me close as we watch the scene play out before us as Ben slowly turns to face our father.

"Han Solo," Ben adresses. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Take off that mask," Dad orders, stepping closer. "You don't need it."

"What do you think you'll see if I do?" Ben questions.

"The face of my son," Dad answers.

Ben complies, taking off the mask, letting us all see his face. "Your son is gone," he says. "He was weak and foolish like his father. So I destroyed him."

"That's what Snoke wants you to believe," Dad insists, stepping forward again. "But it's not true. My son is alive."

"No," Ben disagrees. "The Supreme Leader is wise."

"Snoke is using you for your power," Dad says, and finally he is toe-to-toe with Ben. "When he gets what he wants, he'll crush you. You know it's true."

"It's too late," Ben whispers.

"No, it's not," Dad assures. "Leave here with me and your sister. Come home. We miss you."

Even from where I am, I can see the tears in Ben's eyes.

"I'm being torn apart," my brother admits. "I want to be free of this pain. I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?"

"Yes," Dad answers. "Anything."

Ben drops his mask and takes his saber, holding it between them. Dad takes the handle, and together they hold the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy. I don't see who pushes the button, but the saber suddenly extends, piercing straight through our father.

"DAD!" I scream as Chewie roars and Finn and Rey yell. "NO, DAD!"

Dad touches Ben's face, before falling off the bridge.

Chewie roars again before pulling me close and shooting Ben in the side. Stormtroopers fire on us, and one shot hits my arm, but Chewie kills every one of them he can, running towards an exit. He hits the detonator, and the bombs on the occilator blow.

Uncle Chewie carries me all the way back to the Melinnium Falcon, even though I insist that I can run just fine. Once on the ship, he quickly bandages my arm before setting me in the copilot seat. His seat. He takes Dad's seat and we lift off. We pick up Rey and a severely injured Finn. As we fly back to D'Qar, Rey tells us of their battle with my brother.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I thought I could bring him back, but I was wrong."

"No, Adi," Rey says softly. "There's still a chance. You just didn't see it. He was so close to the Light, he was hitting his wounds to keep his rage."

I look up at Rey. "Really?" I ask. "You really think he might come back?"

"He might," Rey nods. "But not if you give up on him. He knows you believe in him. Make sure he remembers that."

"I will," I promise.

When we land on D'Qar, Chewie hands Finn over to a medical team, and makes me go with them. I guess he doesn't trust his patchwork on my arm.

As soon as I'm released, however, I find Mumma. It seems Rey and Chewie have told her everything. From Ben hurting me, to Dad's death, to the battle in the forest. But Mumma also has news for me. The map to Luke Skywalker is complete.

"You know I can't tell you the location," she says, "but I want you to go with Chewie and Rey. You may have the best chance of getting through to Luke."

I nod, but I can't think of anything to say, except, "I love you, Mumma."

"Oh, I love you, too, Adalee," Mumma sighs, holding me close. "More than you will ever know."

I join Chewie aboard the Falcon and let Chewie and Rey pilot, as I can't know where we're going.