Chapter 6: Conflict

Ben sat in his bedroom and contemplated in his choices and what happened the day before. Everything happened so quickly. Snoke didn't ask if Ben knew where Rey was, which made the situation more suspicious. Yet, he agreed to deliver her in promise of his loyalty as an apprentice. But then, there was Rey. He agreed to be called "Ben", but he wasn't fully confident in adopting that name again. He lived most of his life as "Kylo Ren" and there was something comforting being in the Dark side. But if it made Rey happy, then so be it. It's what she wants after all, right?

The silence enveloped him once more. Rey appeared sitting next to him. She was adorned in a new outfit. Ben felt comforted seeing her again.

"That outfit suits you," he complimented as he looked at her up and down.

"Thanks," Rey blushed as she looked away, "I thought it would be nice change."

Ben hesitated in thought for a moment, but knew it was best to cut to the chase.

"Snoke wants me to bring you to him," he mentioned honestly.

"Snoke?" Rey replied a little confused, "Wait I remembered you mentioning him before, but I didn't get to ask who he is."

"He's my Master. He's been training me ever since I left Skywalker's school."

"What does he want with me?"

"He wants the location of Skywalker, but I know there's more to it than that."

Ben reached over and grabbed Rey's hand.

"Rey, I know he erased my memories. I don't know if I'll get any of it back, but-"

"I'll help you!"

"Wait-"

"We'll stop him together! This is your chance at freedom Ben!"

"Rey…"

"I'll come by in a cargo box to your location. Tell me your coordinates!"

"Rey wait! Are you sure about this? This is Snoke. He's powerful in the Dark side. We don't have a plan-"

"With or without a plan Ben, I believe we can take Snoke down together! Now tell me your coordinates!"

There was no convincing her otherwise. Ben told her the location of the Supremacy and their spontaneous plan was now set in motion.

Ben could see the cargo box enter the ship. Two Stormtroopers stood nearby him as they awaited his orders. Ben assured them that the cargo box was his. As the box landed safely in front of him, he gave a small smile to Rey, who peeked through the small window of the box. The box opened and Rey carefully stood up, keeping her eyes on the Stormtroopers behind Ben. One of them approached and handcuffed Rey with large binders.

"I'll personally deliver her to Snoke," Ben ordered. The Stormtrooper nodded in response.

Ben helped Rey step out of the cargo box and quickly guided her to the elevator across the other side of the room. A few Officers stared, but didn't want to question the powerful Kylo Ren of what was going on.

As they entered the elevator, and the doors closed, there was a bit of silence. It was the first time in a while they physically stood next to each other without the use of the Force.

"Ben," Rey began, "It's good to finally see you."

He instantly smiled in her direction. He used the Force to remove the binders on her arms.

"It's good seeing you too," Ben replied as he tossed the binders aside.

He quickly turned Rey around and gave her a kiss on the lips.

"Ben!" Rey replied flustered and surprised.

"I've always wanted to do this in person," Ben admitted as he continued kissing her lips.

Their small make out session quickly ended as the elevator doors opened. The pair quickly reverted back to their original positions. Ben gently grabbed Rey's arm and they began walking into Snoke's brightly red throne room.

It was at this point, Ben did his best to keep his composure and his mind off of any distractions Snoke may pick up. He had to revert himself back to Kylo Ren. He could sense Rey's tension and determination and knew Snoke would instantly take advantage of this.

"Young Rey welcome," Snoke smiled, "you truly are the equal to my apprentice in the Light side."

Ben let Rey walk ahead of him, as he knelt down behind her. He kept his focus onto to Snoke and kept his mind set strong. Suddenly, he saw Snoke take Rey's lightsaber with the use of the Force. As it floated into his hand, he carefully placed it beside him on the arm rest. Then, he pulled Rey closer towards him.

"You underestimate Skywalker, Ben Solo, and me," Rey said in defiance, "it will be your downfall."

"Oh? You think you three are more powerful than me?" Snoke laughed as he examined Rey's face, "You see I was the one that bridged your minds. I'm the reason why you two were even able to meet, both in dreams and in person using the Force."

Ben's eyes widened at this information.

"W-What?" Rey asked surprised.

"Yes child," Snoke smirked as he pushed Rey away and rose her higher from the ground, "I took Ben Solo's memories away, after you two met in Takodana. He protected you then, but he isn't going to protect you now. I returned him back to Kylo Ren. Now that you're here, I want all the information you have on Skywalker!"

Rey began to scream and Ben quickly looked down to the floor, unable to watch the torture Rey was enduring mentally. He knew what it all felt like. He did his best to conceal the disgust and hatred he felt towards Snoke. Suddenly, Snoke dropped Rey back in front of Ben.

"Skywalker is wise, but he won't live long. Young Rey, unfortunately, you, the Rebels, and Skywalker will be obliterated soon. The Rebel transports are being shot off one by one, as we speak," Snoke explained calmly, "I could kill you, but it's only fitting that I have my apprentice kill you instead."

Snoke took control of Rey once again and turned her around to face Ben. As Ben stood up to face her, he had a sudden idea of the lightsaber next to Snoke. But he had to be careful not to mentally pass the idea. He brandished out his lightsaber and pointed it towards Rey's neck. She looked worried, but he did his best to remain calm.

"My worthy apprentice, son of darkness, and heir apparent to Lord Vader. Where there was conflict, I now sense resolve. Where there was weakness, strength. Complete your training and fufill your destiny!" Snoke announced, his voice echoing throughout the room.

There was a pause, the sound of a lightsaber ignited. Ben didn't know it was going to work, but by some miracle of the Force, it did. As Rey's lightsaber cut through Snoke's body, Ben turned Rey around so that she may grab it as it went to her hand. Snoke's upper body fell like a heap on the floor. Ben could feel some ease from his mind, but their situation wasn't over. As Rey stood back up to look back at Ben, he could see the relief in her eyes. Quickly, the Praetorian Guards surrounded them.

Their lightsaber battle with the Praetorian Guards was a quick team effort. Ben was nearly choked by the last guard, but thanks to Rey in tossing in her lightsaber, he was able to stab the guard through the head. Out of breath, Ben quickly ran up to Rey kissed her on the lips.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said to her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Same to you," she replied still trying to take in a breath, "I didn't know you were going to kill him."

"I didn't know either," Ben admitted as he glanced over at Snoke.

As he released Rey from his arms, he walked over to Snoke's body. Rey followed right after him, staying close by his side.

"He's really gone," Ben said, still awestruck from what happened.

"Did your memories return?" Rey asked as she touched Ben's arm.

Ben closed his eyes for a moment, tried to feel if anything would return back to him. But nothing came. No previous dreams or the early times he spent with Rey. Nothing… Ben shook his head slowly. Rey rubbed his arm and leaned into him.

"They were good memories. The times we spent together in our dreams and the moment we had in Takodana," Rey described, "Maybe I could fill you in the stories sometime?"

"Sure, I would love to hear all of it," Ben responded feeling a little hopeful, "My only concern is if he altered some of my memories…"

Rey gave a small sigh and took Ben's hand for comfort.

"OH!" Rey quickly said, suddenly realizing something, "the fleet! We have to go rescue them!"

Ben released his hand from her.

"Go to them," Ben replied.

"You won't go with me? Why?" Rey asked.

"Rey, there's a lot to the Rebels and my mother that I'm not comfortable addressing right now," Ben calmly explained, "Go to them, they need you. There's an escape craft you can take around the corner from here. I'll take care of what's happening here. Someone will want to know what happened with Snoke."

"Ben…"

"Rey, it's okay. We'll talk more later."

Ben leaned in and gave Rey a kiss on the forehead, then another on the lips. It took her a couple moments of hesitation, before she was sure to leave Ben in the Throne Room. Once she finally left, Ben stood there trying to come up with some kind of believable lie to tell Hux.

Ben lied to Hux explaining that Rey had killed Snoke. Although Hux initially denied Snoke's death, Ben Force choked him till he accepted the harsh reality. Ben then took some time stalling the First Order from getting to Crait. He sneakily used the Force in keeping some of the ships from taking off right away. When he sensed Rey left Crait with the remainder of the Rebel fleet on board the Millenium Falcon, he and the First Order just reached the Resistance Base. Ben pretended he was angry and upset, as he overturned the machinery.

"Investigate the entire base!" Ben screamed at Hux.

"Yes…Supreme Leader," Hux replied unwillingly as he motioned a group of the Stormtroopers to move ahead.

After Hux walked past Ben, Ben entered one of the control rooms nearby. He could sense through the Force the presence of his mother and the other rebels from earlier. He honestly missed her, but he remembered the choices he made becoming Kylo Ren. Now that he took the pedestal as Supreme Leader, he would have to conceal Ben and over time wear Kylo Ren as a mask to everyone else in the First Order. It would be tiring and conflicting at the same time, because he knew he could be both, wavering between the Light and Dark.

End of Impulse: Part 2

Author Note:

Hey everyone! Rise of Skywalker is just around the corner! Apologies for taking a while finishing up this story! I had a difficult time going through writers block trying to figure out how I can weave my fanfic with The Last Jedi. There was a lot of different ways I could go about it, but I'm glad at the very end of this story I went in this direction. I'm hoping that maybe on part 3, I have a bit more flexibility. Anyways, see you in part 3!