The Fallen Knight

Message- Ben

The bridge was teaming with people as Ben walked through the door. Slowly one by one they stopped to stare as he strolled towards the main window. Everyone knew that Kylo Ren had nearly blown off his hand. He could tell they were watching him and he almost wished he was safely behind his mask.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Val smiled as he came to stand between her and Mia.

"Valorie, General." He nodded at both before turning to face Mia. "General, anything to report?" Her face was unreadable behind her black mask but she nodded curtly before responding.

"We're nearing the Inner Rim, but we are maintaining a low profile. So far we've heard nothing, no communications have come from Endor."

"They are planning something. I want us ready for any attack, we need to be on full alert." Ben looked back and forth between Val and Mia. "Valorie, you know hand to hand combat almost as well and Syrus, I need you and him to help train the remaining troops. General, continue to oversee operations."

"Yes Supreme Leader." They both nodded.

"Excellent, I will start gathering the handful of pilots we have left. This battle isn't going to be easy, we don't know how big Crimson Dawn has become."

"Supreme Leader, General. There is an incoming distress signal from Vodran." One on the officers spoke from his seat Ben turned to look at him.

"What is it?" Mia moved from where she was standing to the officer. He glanced up at Ben, who nodded, before looking back to the screen.

"It seems, General, that they have been warned of imminent attack."

"Kriff. How much time do we have, tell them to evacuate immediately they..." Ben started to speak but immediately stopped. The Force rippled around him and then he felt it.

The Force cried out so loudly that Ben nearly doubled over in pain. It was his stomach that dropped first, but his knees nearly gave way too. He swayed forward slightly, his head suddenly filled with the sound of screaming, then there was nothing. Val reached her hand to him only to stiffen and stare. She felt it too.

Ben was frozen as the pain washed over him, from the corner of his eye he could see the officers and Mia staring at he and Val.

"Supreme Leader, Master Valorie? Are you..." Mia spoke quickly, Ben could see her lean forward towards Val, he could feel her worry for them.

"It's...too...late." Val whispered. "He...it's too late."

"To late for what, Valorie what do mean?"

It was Ben who answered first. "The planet has been destroyed, Vodran...it's gone Mathis used the weapon.

Silence hung in the air. It seems everyone had frozen as the pair of Force users stood still.

"All of them? No it can't be, they can't all be gone." Mia whispered.

"General?" The officer spoke again and Ben looked at Mia who froze.

"Yes?"

"There is a message from Endor."

"What does it say? Play it on screen." Ben snapped, the office flinched back before turning to the screen. He pressed a few buttons and in front of them the large window blinked to life. It was Mathis.

"Ben Solo as I am sure you're aware, Vodran has been destroyed. Surrender now to Crimson Dawn. If you resist I will not hesitate to destroy each planet under the First Orders Rule. The time has come to make peace with your demons. Give up the scavenger, bring her to me and surrender or there will be death. It will start with General Leia. Their base on Yavin 4 is not safe, your ship in the Inner Rim is not safe. Bring her to me Ben Solo or the death of the galaxy will be on your hands."

The message cut out and all eyes fell to Ben. He didn't speak. There was no winning. Either the entire galaxy was to be destroyed or he would lose Rey forever. There was no question in his mind that Ben would sacrifice the galaxy to keep her safe. But his family, the members of the First Order and even Rey herself would never let him do that.

"My lord what are your orders?" Mia spoke first she stepped forward before lifting her hands to her mask and removing it. "I will stand with you Ben." She smiled and Valorie stepped up next to her.

He looked around the bridge. No one had moved from their seat, not a single officer had spoken up.

"Enough is enough." He whispered to Mia before speaking louder to the rest of the crew. "Crimson Dawn is not to be tested, Lord Mathis is serious. The First Order is no longer in control. My final order as Supreme Leader is to release you all from your duties. All of you have served admirably and I will not sacrifice you to this mad man. General, take this ship to Vardos. Everyone return to your families. It's time I end this."

No one spoke. All eyes watched as Ben Solo left the bridge. He knew what he had to do. Mathis would die and he would be sure of it.

"Going off on an adventure I see." Syrus was standing outside the doors to the bridge leaning against the wall looking bored as ever.

"I'm going alone Syrus, go home, go with Mitaka." Ben didn't look at him but he knew the knight wouldn't budge. Syrus rolled his eyes before pushing himself off the wall.

"Haven't you learned that he's more stubborn than your mother?" Mia's voice sounded from behind him and Ben spun to find Val and Mia standing behind him smiling.

"I won't let any of you come with me, not this time." He shook his head at the three. He wouldn't lose his family. "I have to do this without losing anyone else.

"And I suppose you're going to stop us then?" Syrus shook his head. "It's three against one Ben, we're not letting you play hero, not this time." Syrus crossed his arms in an attempt, Ben guessed, to look menacing.

"Sy, you're not coming. What about Mitaka? And Val, Mia you two have a wedding to plan."

"Yes asshole, we do, and my brother is going to be there whether he likes it or not. Both of them. You're not going alone Ben. We're in this together." Val hissed at him.

"Yep sorry Ben but the resistance is my family too and you don't get to be the only one who helps them." Mia spoke now and Ben looked back and forth between the three of them.

"General I gave you an order." He answered with a glare.

"And I delegated to Lieutenant Rodinon. He will get this ship back to Vardos. I am no longer your General."

"There's no stopping us Ben, either you let us come or we'll follow you, but we're helping and that's that. Plus I swear to the Force if you make me go to that wedding alone I will rencarnate your ass and kill you." Syrus smiled. "And as for Mitaka, he knows how I feel and I don't plan on dying."

"I hate all of you." Ben rolled his eyes but he didn't argue further. Truthfully four against two was better than one. "Fine get what you need we're leaving in one hour." They nodded and each moved off in different directions. Ben spun around to head to his room but froze.

Rey was standing there, her nearly murderous as she stared at him and he knew. She had seen everything.