One-Shots -- Star Wars

Choice-- Part 1

"Ben!" Han shouted.

Ren stopped cold as the sound echoed around the cavernous oscillator. That voice- that name... he never thought he'd hear either again.

He turned to face the speaker. "Han Solo. I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

His mask hid any trace of emotion that might have been found.

The mechanical, soulless sound of his voice was daunting. A part of Han was afraid of what he might find if he continued, but he didn't even consider the thought of turning back. His low footsteps were the only sound as he made his way out onto the catwalk.

It had only taken Rey a moment to unseal the door at the top of the oscillator. She had her blaster at the ready as she and Finn darted inside, but the upper levels appeared to be empty.

Then they came to the edge of the walkway, and Finn's heart skipped a beat.

What are you doing?! he mentally shouted at Han.

There on the catwalk, lit by a ray of sunlight from the doorway behind them, stood an all-too-familiar figure: a man in black robes and a metal mask. He was looking straight at Han.

And rather than getting out of sight, or fleeing, or any one of a dozen things Finn would have expected, Han Solo was approaching him, walking carefully out onto the catwalk over the pit.

"Take off that mask," Han called. "You don't need it."

Ren didn't move. "What do you think you'll see if I do?" he challenged.

"The face of my son," Han answered.

Neither Rey nor Finn could look away. Though Rey couldn't make out the words, she suddenly remembered the spark of recognition in Ren's mind when he'd caught her memories of Han.

She felt like the pieces had been hovering at the edges of her mind but had only now come together. But how could it be possible?

Han didn't speak, didn't come closer, just waited for his son to act.

Ren did nothing for a long moment. Then he reached up and pulled off his mask, regarding Han with a cold, emotionless gaze.

Han's breath caught. It had been so long, too long since he'd last seen him.

But the look on this man's face; the complete lack of any kind of warmth or even recognition... It was so different from the boy Han had known, and it scared him to see what he'd become.

"Your son is gone," Ren said coldly. "He was weak and foolish, like his father. So I destroyed him."

Han recovered himself, stepping forward again.

"That's what Snoke wants you to believe," he said. "But it's not true. My son is alive."

It had to be true. What else could have compelled him to take off that terrible helmet, and speak to Han face-to-face?

But Ren refused to let himself be swayed. "No. The Supreme Leader is wise."

"Snoke is using you for your power." Han knew the type. And it always went the same way. "When he gets what he wants, he'll crush you."

Han stepped closer, within arm's length now. Ren retreated half a pace.

The look in his son's eyes broke Han's heart. He had seen it before, on some of the most hardened smugglers he knew; a look of suspicion and instinctive mistrust.

Thinking like that had kept Han alive a few times, but he had hoped that his son would never have need of it.

He stopped again. "You know it's true."

Ren hesitated, and Han felt a spark of hope at the conflict he saw.

"It's too late," Ren whispered.

"No, it's not," Han insisted. "Leave here with me, come home."

He knew the kinds of things Kylo Ren had done. But he also remembered who he'd once been.

"We miss you," he said softly.

Ren was silent. A part of him almost reached out but he held himself back. He shouldn't want this, shouldn't even be tempted. He'd known what he was doing, joining the First Order, but now...

"I'm being torn apart," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I want to be free of this pain."

He couldn't control the quaver in his voice. "...And I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength to do it." Then: "Will you help me?"

Han didn't hesitate. "Yes, anything."

Ren looked away, letting his mask fall from his hand. Then he looked back at Han as he pulled his lightsaber from his belt.

Han glanced down at the weapon. Ren stared at it for a long moment before meeting Han's gaze again and holding the lightsaber out between them.

Han reached out and closed his grip around the handle.

Outside, the clouds shifted, covering the light of the dying sun. The beam of light shining into the oscillator was cut off, leaving nothing but darkness and the red glow of the safety lights.

There was a moment of stillness, broken only by Ren's hands shaking on his lightsaber. Then a sharp, sudden movement. A strangled cry, a flash of red light, and a scream from above.

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Yes, I know, but it practically begged to have a chapter break here. More to come, trust me.