Ouroboros

Twenty Nine

Twenty Nine.

Ben was staring at the wild lights of hyperspace through the cockpit windows, seated comfortably in the pilot's seat. He was exhausted, his body hurt and he had no clue what was going to happen to him now-but he couldn't sleep. Because he needed to savour every moment that Rey was finally here and alive-even if she was fast asleep.

He sighed and stretched. His wounds from Mustafar hadn't been helped by his death experience and he had finally allowed an extremely grumpy and rough Tamini to patch him up with Rey offering to Force-heal him...but he was determined that she wouldn't waste any of her newly regained life force on him. In fact, the worry that she would try to covertly help him while he was asleep was another reason he just couldn't unwind enough to rest.

He had done it. Finally, Rey was saved and Hux was defeated. His ship was wreckage and the Rebels had allowed the Finalizer-along with the Rebel vessels-to rescue any survivors from the remains of the Eliminator. Peavey had negotiated for the safety of his crew and once he was satisfied, he had surrendered. The ship's navigational system was slaved to the Reunity and a skeleton Rebel crew transferred over to monitor the trip to Coruscant where the majority of the new Resistance Allies were meeting. Poe and Finn had reluctantly agreed to go as well but they were flying via Kineva to finally drop off Tamini before they headed to join the Resistance party.

Hux had been located. A large portion of Ben was disappointed because the man not only wanted him dead but he could positively identify him as Kylo Ren, a man who was supposed to have died. Fished from a damaged emergency bridge shuttle with a semi-conscious stormtrooper, Hux had been furious, arrogant and ultimately stubborn but when he had declared himself as Supreme Leader, the Resistance had laughed in his face-before shackling him securely and throwing him in the brig for war crimes and genocide. Ben had made sure they knew that he was the one who had developed and ordered the firing of Starkiller Base, killing fourteen billion sentients.

Idly, Ben flipped through the news net, scanning what was happening and he smiled as he caught the headlines.

"In Galaxy Eye tonight, our headlines are... Former Supreme Leader of the First Order Kylo Ren is dead. Verified footage by Resistance leaders Finn and Poe Dameron shows him dying in direct combat with Last Jedi, Rey of Jakku, on the planet Dathomir. His remains have already been cremated and scattered in space to prevent any resting place forming a shrine for former First Order supporters.

In a twist of fate, two hold-out First Order Destroyers were engaged by Joint Resistance-Council forces over Dathomir. One was destroyed and the other surrendered and will be returned to Coruscant for examination and demobilisation. General Armitage Hux of the First Order, the Butcher of Hosnia, was captured and will face charges of genocide.

The newly formed Interim Council has issued a statement:

'Today is a great day for Freedom. Both the leaders of the First Order are now removed. General Hux's trial will be scheduled as soon as he arrives on Coruscant. We regret that Kylo Ren has escaped justice but we accept that the Galaxy is a safer place now that he breathes no more.'

In other news..."

"So it's official," Poe murmured, walking into the cockpit and handing Ben a cup of caff. "You are dead. How does it feel?"

"Surprisingly achy and tiring," he replied dryly. "Thanks." He sipped the caff and returned his gaze to the chaotic streaks of stars. Poe sat and inspected him for a moment.

"I still don't like you," he said without preamble.

"I know." Ben felt himself tense slightly, not moving from his inspection of the stars.