Blaster fire scorched the air around them as Ben, Finn, and Link formed a protective barrier around Rey. They moved in perfect sync, their lightsabers spinning, deflecting the relentless barrage from the Path of the Open Hand soldiers. Rey, however, was focused on Mar Corrik, her green blade clashing against the yellow lightsaber in a deadly dance. Mar was fast, faster than she expected, but she remained calm, her mind clear, as her training with Luke and Leia had taught her.
"Ah!" Link yelled out, as a blaster bolt hit her arm, and she dropped to the ground, clutching the wound.
"Link!" Finn shouted. Without hesitation, he leaped in front of her, deflecting a new wave of blaster bolts. His blue lightsaber twirled like a shield, the blaster shots ricocheting back at their attackers.
Rey heard the roar of engines and spared a glance toward the temple. Starfighters were launching from the massive hangar, rising into the sky, ready to strike. Her heart pounded as she realized how many of them were airborne.
Finn, still blocking shots, activated his comlink. "We need to stop those fighters, now!"
Kaydel's voice crackled through the comlink from aboard the shuttle. "There's too many! We can't…"
Suddenly, a formation of X-wings appeared on the horizon, engines screaming as they soared toward the battle. Finn's comlink lit up again and he heard Poe's voice.
"This is Black Leader. Those fighters aren't going anywhere."
The X-wings engaged immediately, their laser cannons lighting up the sky as they tore through the Path starfighters. Explosions erupted overhead as one by one, the enemy ships were shot down, their remains spiraling into the dense forest below. Mar Corrik's face twisted with rage as he stared at the sky, watching his carefully laid plans fall apart. The air was filled with the sound of laser fire and the screams of fighters, but Rey could feel the tide of the battle turning.
On the ground, Path soldiers began to lose their resolve. Seeing their fighters destroyed, their cause hopeless, many of them dropped their blasters and knelt in surrender. The forest clearing was littered with broken weapons and tired combatants. New Republic soldiers moved quickly to secure the area, rounding up the surrendering troops. The battle on the ground was nearly over.
But Rey's battle wasn't.
The yellow saber slashed toward her with renewed aggression, his movements faster, more erratic. He was fueled by desperation now, his strikes coming in rapid succession. Rey blocked each one, but the sheer ferocity of his attack began to push her back. He leaped into the air, spinning over her head in a blur of motion. Rey pivoted to face him, but he was too fast. His saber cut through the air, and before she could react, he knocked her green lightsaber from her hand, sending it skidding across the ground.
The yellow blade hovered dangerously close to Rey's throat. He stood over her, his eyes wild, breathing heavily, ready to deliver the final blow. For a split second, Rey felt a surge of fear. She reached out with the Force, trying to pull her lightsaber back to her hand, but she wasn't fast enough.
He raised the saber, preparing to strike her down.
Suddenly, his hand stopped in mid-swing.
Mar's eyes widened in confusion as he looked down at his arm, which was trembling uncontrollably. His breathing became labored, and then, slowly, he dropped the yellow saber. His hands flew to his throat as he gasped for air, choking. He clawed at his neck, his face contorted in agony.
Rey looked past Mar and saw Ben, his hand outstretched, fingers curled. His face was cold, distant. She could feel the cold embrace of the darkside.
Rey shouted, "Ben, no!"
But Ben's expression remained hard as he kept his grip on Mar, lifting him off the ground with invisible power. Mar's legs kicked helplessly in the air as Ben tightened his hold. Slowly, Mar was being crushed, his breaths shallow and desperate.
The New Republic soldiers, who had been closing in, stopped in their tracks. They watched in silent horror as Ben wielded the dark side of the Force openly, choking the life out of his enemy. The air around them seemed to grow colder, the very atmosphere thick with the weight of the dark side.
"Ben!" Rey shouted again, louder this time, but her voice couldn't seem to reach him.
Rey took a deep breath, calming herself, then closed her eyes. She reached out with the Force, connecting with Ben's mind, feeling the anger and darkness swirling inside him, consuming him.
Ben, it's over.
Her voice echoed in his mind, gentle yet firm. The light from her presence pushed through the haze of anger, a beacon of warmth in the darkness. Slowly, Ben began to feel her light, her love for him. It cut through the shadow that had taken hold of him, bringing him back.
His expression softened, and his hand dropped to his side. Mar collapsed to the ground in a heap, gasping for breath, clutching his throat. He was alive.
Ben took a shaky step back, breathing heavily, his eyes wide. For a moment, he seemed lost, uncertain of what had just happened. But then he felt Rey beside him, her presence grounding him. Her light had pulled him back from the edge.
Rey stepped forward, her face softening as she spoke. "It's over."
Ben nodded slowly, still catching his breath. He could feel the eyes of the New Republic soldiers on him, some in shock, others in fear. But Rey was there, her calm presence reassuring him that he hadn't crossed the line, not completely.
Rey reached out, pulling with the Force. Both of her sabers flew into her hands. A snap-hiss filled the air as the green and yellow blades ignited, she held them at the ready. Mar Corrik knelt on the ground, coughing as he tried to catch his breath. He glared up at Rey with hatred.
"You've lost," she said, "it's over."
Ben stepped forward now, his lightsaber deactivated but still in hand. "You're under arrest, Mar Corrik, for crimes against the New Republic."
The sound of boots crunching over dirt signaled the arrival of New Republic soldiers. They approached cautiously, watching Ben closely. One of the soldiers stepped forward and pulled a pair of binders from his belt.
Mar, still breathing heavily, offered no resistance as the soldier snapped the binders onto his wrists. His shoulders slumped, the weight of defeat settling over him.
As the soldiers led Mar away, the sounds of battle around them began to fade. The last of the Path's starfighters were being shot down in the skies above, explosions lighting up the horizon. New Republic forces were securing the area, rounding up the remaining Path soldiers.
Kaydel's voice came through Finn's comlink again. "All enemy fighters are down."
Finn deactivated his lightsaber, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lieutenant Connix."
As the dust settled, Rey turned to Ben. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm. Ben's gaze was distant, troubled by what had just transpired. He had come so close to the edge. But Rey's touch brought him back to the present, reminding him that he wasn't alone.
"It's okay," she said.
Ben looked at her, his eyes searching hers for reassurance. "I almost..." he started, but Rey shook her head.
"You didn't. You came back."
Ben let out a shaky breath, and Rey pulled him into a hug. He stood stiff for a moment, but then he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. The tension in his body began to melt away as he let himself find comfort in her presence.
"You saved me," he whispered.
Rey pulled back slightly to look at him. "We saved each other."
—
Finn guided Link gently into a makeshift medical tent at the edge of the clearing, his arm wrapped around her shoulders to support her as they walked. She winced with every step, clutching the wound on her arm. Finn's heart ached seeing her like this, she had fought so bravely, so fiercely, and now all he wanted was to ensure she was alright.
The tent was bustling with activity, New Republic medics tending to wounded soldiers. A medic, a middle-aged human woman with dark hair tied in a bun, looked up as they entered. She quickly moved over to them, her expression one of concern.
"Let's get you seated," the medic said softly, guiding Link to a chair. She examined the wound with gentle hands, and Link bit her lip, refusing to cry out in pain. "You've got a deep burn, but it's clean. You'll be alright," the medic assured her with a warm smile.
Link nodded, exhaling a shaky breath. "Thank you," she murmured.
Finn stood by her side, relief washing over him. "You did great, Link."
The medic began cleaning and dressing the wound, applying a bacta patch to promote healing. Finn watched, his mind still reeling from the battle, but grateful that Link would be okay. He hadn't realized just how deeply he cared for his Padawan until he saw her fall in battle, and the fear of losing her had been more intense than any fight he'd ever faced.
A familiar roar echoed across the clearing as Poe Dameron's X-wing descended, landing softly at the edge of the field. The cockpit opened, and Poe emerged, sliding down the ladder with ease. BB-8 dropped out, his head swiveling, scanning the area as they both moved toward the medical tent with purpose. As soon as Poe caught sight of Finn, he broke into a sprint, his heart pounding, ignoring the chaos around him.
Finn turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, and before he knew it, Poe had thrown his arms around him, holding him tight. Finn's breath hitched in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Poe, feeling the tension and fear of the past hours melt away in the warmth of the embrace.
"You're okay," Poe whispered. "I was so worried."
Finn pulled back just enough to look into Poe's eyes, his heart swelling with love and relief. "I'm okay," he murmured. And before either of them could say another word, Finn leaned in, and their lips met in a tender, passionate kiss.
BB-8 chirped happily at the sight.
As they pulled apart, a warm smile spread across Finn's face. "You were amazing up there," he said.
Poe grinned, that familiar sparkle in his eyes returning. "Well, you know, I do what I can."
Their moment was interrupted as Kaydel, Daro, and BB-56 made their way over to the group, Kaydel's eyes bright with gratitude. She wore a bandage on her forehead from a minor injury sustained earlier, but there was a lightness to her step that hadn't been there before.
"Thanks for the air support," Kaydel said, her gaze fixed on Poe. "We couldn't have done this without you."
Poe waved a hand dismissively. "Just doing my job, Senator," he replied with a grin. "Couldn't let you have all the fun."
BB-8 rolled up to BB-56, chirping excitedly. The pink and white BB unit whistled in response, introducing herself with a polite beep, and the two droids began exchanging data, sharing stories of their latest adventures in a language only they could understand.
At that moment, Rey and Ben emerged from the shadows, making their way toward the group. They moved slowly, side by side, exhaustion etched into every line of their faces, but the relief of victory evident in their eyes. When Kaydel saw Rey, her breath caught, and she rushed forward, throwing her arms around her friend in a tight hug.
"Rey," Kaydel breathed. "It's so good to see you. I'm so glad you're safe."
Rey hugged her back, her eyes closed, letting the warmth and comfort of the embrace ground her. "You too," she replied softly. When they pulled back, Rey said, "I was worried about you, Kaydel."
Kaydel shook her head, laughing weakly. "You're one to talk. You went up against Mar Corrik himself."
"It wasn't easy," Rey admitted, glancing at Ben, who gave her a small, reassuring smile. She felt a surge of gratitude for his presence, for the way he had fought alongside her, despite everything that could have gone wrong.
Kaydel turned to face the four Jedi, Rey, Ben, Finn, and Link, who was now standing, her arm bandaged but her spirit unbroken. The gratitude in Kaydel's eyes was unmistakable as she addressed them. "Thank you," she said. "You've all risked your lives to protect me, to stop the Path of the Open Hand, and to arrest Mar Corrik. I can never repay you for what you've done today."
Finn nodded. "It's what we do."
Ben remained silent, but there was a sense of peace in his eyes, something that hadn't been there for a long time. He felt the weight of his past lifting, even if just a little, and knew that whatever came next, he wouldn't face it alone.
Rey reached out, taking Kaydel's hand in hers. "The Path may have been stopped today, but they won't be the last threat the galaxy faces. We need to be ready for whatever comes next," she said.
Kaydel nodded, squeezing Rey's hand. "I'll be ready. We all will."
Poe stepped forward, slipping an arm around Finn's waist and pulling him close, BB-8 rolling up to his side. "So, what's next for the heroes of the galaxy?" he asked, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of seriousness.
Rey glanced at Ben, then at Finn and Link. "First," she said, "we need to make sure everyone here is taken care of. We need to regroup, heal, and make sure the New Republic is ready to handle any remnants of the Path that might still be out there."
Finn nodded, already slipping into his role as a leader. "Agreed. But after that… who knows? The Force has a way of guiding us where we're needed."
Link looked up at Finn, her eyes wide with excitement. "Does that mean more missions?"
Finn chuckled. "Definitely more missions. But first, we rest."
Poe squeezed Finn's side, leaning his head against his. "Rest sounds good," he agreed. "Maybe a vacation? Somewhere without blasters or starships trying to kill us?"
"That would be nice," Rey said with a laugh, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.
The group stood together, basking in the warmth of their victory, surrounded by friends and allies. The threat of the Path of the Open Hand had been dealt with, and though there would always be challenges ahead, they knew they would face them together.