Dawn of a new Force

Chapter 48 - A feeling.

As the night progressed, they decided to rest before leaving the next day. BB-8 remained on standby, and they decided on a guard shift. Poe was appointed to hold the first quarter, and everything soon became calm in the stone hut.

Poe looked at his fellow passengers, lying down. Finn and Rose side by side, almost glued. And on the other side, Rey and .... Although he knew that he had no hope with Rey, he could not take his eyes off her. Now that all were asleep, he could detail her and try to reason with herself. Why could not he make a reason? It was obvious that she would never be at his side, at least as he had hoped ... But something in him whispered to him that this hope would not be in vain. He could not make sense of it, and the very thread of that hope was unpleasant. He would have liked to move on, especially after being exposed in front of her.

He watched her sleep facing Ben Solo. She looked soothed, so calm in the current storm. He heard the sound of the rain falling continuously. It rocked him, and soon he found himself closing his eyes without realizing it. Surprised, he opened his eyes again. He got up and stretched to wake up. He waited for what seemed to last for long minutes, then, he heard BB-8 emit a discreet beep, nevertheless meaningful.

Poe was immediately awakened from his torpor, and his heart was busy to give him all his senses to their maximum sensitivity. He grabbed his blaster and squinted at the surroundings.

Everything seemed normal, but the rain made nothing easier. And suddenly, he saw a movement. Stealthy, and silent. Abnormal, then.

He rushed to his companions and woke them by tapping them on the shoulder. One glance is enough with them to understand. Leaping standing, they prepared themselves.

- We have to go out, right now! pressed Poe. If we stay here we are dead!

Not bothering to put on a cloak against the rain, they cautiously left the hut. Everything was silent except the sound of the rain. Moving back to back, as low as possible, they walked to Luke's old house to take the path leading to the ship.

It was then that Ben lit his lightsaber just in time to deflect a first shot. He had felt the imminence of the shot. With his hand, he managed to block a portion of the flood of fire that fell on them. The shots stopped clearly and illuminated the battlefield. They could distinguish their attackers. And Ben recognized them immediately.

- The shadows, he cursed, clenching his teeth.

Rey heard it but could not get up, much too busy to parry. She felt stronger, more comfortable. But she saw that Poe, Finn and Rose were starting to be cornered. She had to protect them, they had come running to save her and were in danger because of her. She remembered that she had made no choice and decided to use her anger. She drew in anger and suddenly the time seemed to slow down. She began to make her sword dancing more easily, faster, louder. Her dance seemed to leave Ben admiring, and he joined her. She moved closer to one of the men and easily, she cut the arm that held the blaster. Then, she approached a second assailant, while Ben was flying a third. Avoiding a shot by deviating it with her sword, she then reached him by the throat. Ben rushed to another assailant, literally cutting him in half at the waist. But seeing a shot that he had not deviated to get close to him, she projected her Force to protect him. Not being able to control this influx of Force, she saw the houses around them flying. Finally, she heard an escape order, and even though she had a furious desire to pursue them, she reasoned.

Ben joined her, as well as Poe.

- Let's go, let's finish, Ben ordered.

- For once, I agree, said Poe.

- No! said Rey.

- Why?

- Let them go back to Hux, let them tell what they saw. Let them tell him that we have become powerful, that he will not win.