CHAPTER 42
NO ONE'S EVER REALLY GONE

"WELL, it's about time you got here."

Gerardo grinned at Raena's statement. She sat in the corner of the room, which was lined with sound-proofing on all walls. There was only a plastic bench on the side of the room, where Raena sat. Her hands were placed behind her back and her hair sat in shiny strands across her forehead. "Honestly," he said, kneeling down as he approached her spot, "that's the greeting I expected from you."

Raena smirked. "Try to get these cuffs off me. They're digging into my skin."

She turned slightly with her back facing him. Gerardo stared at the metal cuffs with a confused expression. The metal pulsed with a blue light, which could mean many things. They could possibly shock or taze him completely if he touched them. He bit his lip, wondering how to remove them. After flipping her hands up, Gerardo noticed a small keypad on the right side of the cuffs. The stormtrooper must have locked it with a password.

"There's a keypad on here for a code." Gerardo said, mind racking with questions. "I think that might be how I unlock them."

Raena looked over her shoulder at the cuffs. "Troopers aren't usually very smart," she replied. "Try their name. I saw their distinction on the suit before they threw me in here. I think it was EC-0224."

Gerardo thought that was as good as an idea as anything. He typed in the letters before making a space, and then typing in the submit. He tried to ignore the footsteps he heard rounding the corner to her room as he pressed enter. Almost instantly, the lights on the cuffs shut off, and they fell to the ground in front of Gerardo.

"We did it!" He exclaimed, and then the harsh reality before them appeared. "What do we do now?"

Raena was going to speak when someone called out, "Hey! You two, freeze!" But the stormtrooper in the doorway was too slow, for Raena Nhagy was already on her feet and shooting a blaster bolt in his direction. The trooper fell to the floor with a slam, and Raena looked to Gerardo, a grin spreading on her features. She jumped forward, heaving the stormtrooper up so she could retrieve the blaster rifle from their hands.

She walked back to Gerardo, cocking the rifle back. "How did you even get here?" She asked with a muddled expression. "Did you have some kind of like gut feeling I would be taken hostage again by these asswipes?"

Gerardo laughed before his face turned serious. "I heard you had a meeting with Snoke yesterday." He shrugged. "Judging by how most of your meetings with him go, I expected the worst. My first inclination was that you were on this ship."

Raena sent him a genuine smile, slapping her hand on his shoulder and rubbing it. Her eyes were like a warm honey, bearing into Gerardo's dark clouds and making the ends of his mouth tug upward. "You're a true friend, Gerardo," she said. "Thank you."

"You're going to make me cry, Nhagy," he stifled a fake sob, causing Raena to chuckle. They hugged for a short moment, enjoying each other's warm embrace. It was people like Gerardo that made life worth living for Raena. When they leaned away, Gerardo asked, "But seriously, what do we do now? What happened in the meeting?"

"Snoke knows what I did –" Raena paused for a second. "Well, he knew that I had allied myself with the Resistance after Kylo Ren had tried to kill me. Oh, and apparently, Ren has now declared himself as the Supreme Leader. Great."

Gerardo's brow lifted. "So now they all think you're a traitor? That obviously means we're done for."

Raena frowned slightly, knocking her blaster rifle into her head as she thought of an idea. After a long exhale, she shook her head. The decision wasn't exactly what she ever wanted to do, but it was something she had to. "Not yet," Raena replied. "I think I know what I have to do."

•••

Choosing between her own selfish desires and doing what was right made Raena's head spin. Being the selfish person she was, that was obviously the option she wanted to go with. Although, Raena felt her selfish desires were split in two different directions. She could lie to herself and say that they only involved her plan to kill Kylo Ren, but what of the moment back in Snoke's throne room? The moment when she allowed herself in his embrace again and was full vulnerable? What of that? She didn't know, and she decided to not remember.

Nevertheless, Raena Nhagy was going to try to do what was right. After doing so much wrong, it was only good of her to do the opposite. General Organa had asked her to look after her son, and Raena was finally going to accept that promise.

Leia Organa sat in the safety of the Crait base. Stones began to crumble from the ceiling, threatening the structure of the base itself. Her hand gripped a cane firmly, and Indira Beren noticed the shakiness of her fingers as she stood near. Indira sat in a chair, fiddling with a radio as she tried to capture a signal. She theorized it could be another way to reach a message out to their allies in the Outer Rim. Her mind swarm with hopeful thoughts for Poe, but she had to stay focused.

"It's useless," Connix murmured with a shake of her head. "Our distress signal has been received at multiple points, but no response."

Commander D'Acy appeared beside her coworker. "They've heard us, but no one's coming."

They turned to Leia, who shook her head with a melancholy expression. Indira smacked the radio in front of her as she said, "Maybe, if we just try to –"

Leia brought her hand down on the young woman's. Indira stared up at the general with hope, the same stare Leia had given her years ago when she was recruited. Now, Leia's view held nothing but sadness. "We fought until the very end," the general sighed. "But ... the galaxy has lost all it's hope. The spark ... is out."

Static rose out of Indira's radio, and she stepped away from it, hoping that it was now working. Out of nowhere, a familiar voice filled the air: "General Organa, Resistance members – hope is not lost."

Indira gasped at the sudden sound of Raena Nhagy's booming voice. Leia immediately spun in her seat, looking to the radio with wide eyes. She placed a hand on Indira's shoulder with encouragement. A smile was placed on both their faces.

"Who are you even talking to?" Another voice asked, which was meant with a slapping sound.

"Shush! This is important, Gerardo!" Raena's tone was distant, but the volume was raised when she continued her speech. "I'm going to go on a hunch and say that no one is hearing me right now. I know you're all out there fighting and experiencing losses, but hope is not lost. I'm going to ..." Raena sighed. "I'm going to do something about it.

"I thought all hope was lost yesterday. The Supreme Leader found out the information I was relaying to the Rebellion. Luckily for me, he's ... well, he's dead."

The people surrounding the Crait base all gathered together, listening intently. The mention of Snoke's death sent a shiver down their spines, but a moment of hope appeared on all their features.

"Kylo Ren has declared himself the new Supreme Leader." Raena explained, ending her statement with a huff. "General Organa, if you're listening, I fear that even with his master gone – this new title may push your son farther into the dark side. The spark isn't out just yet. I've had conversation with Ben Solo; he's still in there. I think ... I'm going to do the right thing for you, general. I'm going to try to bring your son back." She paused for a moment. "I promise."

The line ended immediately. A beat of silence hung in the air. Indira reached out and turned off the radio. Neither of them knew what to say, but maybe they didn't have to say anything. Leia shook her head, knowing how far gone her son was, and that Raena's mission would be a hopeless case. As if they felt a form in the doorway, the group of rebels turned, seeing a figure appear before the light. The hooded person moved closer, and they soon revealed the face of Luke Skywalker.

•••

With a quick flip of her wrist, Raena smashed the comlink on the ground. She stomped her boot into it several times, so all the recordings and her voice were diminished. Shards of metal and plastic rumbled on the floor around her feet. Raena sighed once she destroyed the com, and she turned to Gerardo behind her, suddenly feeling lightheaded. She almost collapsed into her friend, but he held her upright by her arms. "That," Gerardo grinned, "was awesome."

"I made a promise," Raena said after clearing her throat, "and for once, I intend to keep it. No one's ever really gone. I can do it." She picked up the blaster rifle that she'd dropped. "At least, I hope I can."

The two friends strode quickly through the command ship, making sure to hide from any troopers just passing by. Raena crept along the white walls, keeping her blaster tucked close to her chest. Eventually, they arrived at the front of the ship, where the rest of the crew was located. They looked out from the corner of a wall, spying on what was happening. Out of nowhere, Kylo Ren shouted, "STOP!"

Just his voice alone made Raena's heart plummet. She needed a plan. The simplicity of just firing her weapon on his back right now seemed so easy. She could do it in under a second. But she decided against it in this moment. From behind her, Gerardo took out a pair of binoculars from his belt, and used them to take a closer look at what was going on outside of the ship. "That's Luke Skywalker," he whispered with awe. "Luke Skywalker is waiting outside."

Raena turned back to the front of the ship, swallowing down the lump in her throat. She felt the command ship stop moving. The sun shined down on the legendary Jedi with bright yellow hue. They were going to blast Luke to smithereens, but was that even possible? "I want every gun we have to fire on that man," Kylo ordered. "Do it."

Raena felt her impulse control skyrocketing. She pushed Gerardo off to the side, so he wouldn't follow her, and she finally stepped out from the dark. She cocked back her rifle, readying her finger on the trigger. This wasn't part of the new plan, but she was doing it anyways. If only, if only Raena Nhagy could make up her mind for once. "You should specify which man," she warned, "Ben."

Before Raena could fire, Kylo spun on his heel, hand thrust out. He seized the weapon immediately, and it flew through the air to his fingertips. Fuck, Raena thought, biting her lip. Even she knew that was stupid. Kylo looked down at the blaster rifle, and then back at her. "How did you possibly get out?" He asked with a menacing smile, almost as if he was proud. "It doesn't matter. Come over here."

She didn't move an inch. Kylo used the Force again to freeze her body, and then had her slide right to his side. Raena tried thrashing around to move, but she couldn't do anything. Gerardo watched with wide eyes as Kylo wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulders, pointing to the scene in front of them. From just outside the windshield, each of the M6 walkers fired their guns on Luke, creating a red explosion in the sand. Kylo used his other hand to hold up Raena's chin, forcing her to watch the detonation.

"Stop trying to be the hero you know you aren't," Kylo whispered in her ear. "I know you, Raena Nhagy, and you know your place. You're not a traitor; you're not even lost. You're just trying to be something you're not."

General Hux approached them with a heated stare. "Ren, do not –"

Kylo used the Force to slam Hux into a wall, silencing the general. Kylo turned back to Raena, meeting her narrowed stare. "I remember when those eyes used to be full of fear when they saw me," he muttered lowly. "What happened to that?"

"Ben Solo cared for me. That's what happened." Raena replied, trying to move her rigid body. "I guess you lost your touch."

Kylo smirked the tiniest bit, causing Raena's lip to curl in disgust. "Oh, you." He turned back to the crew in front of them, shouting, "MORE FIRE!"

Raena's head trembled with anxiety as she watched the explosion before her eyes. Kylo still held her firmly in his grip, and as much as she wanted to just close her eyes – not only from this sight, but from just simple exhaustion – she knew he would just open them. She wanted to cry, but she felt nothing in that moment. Maybe he was right. Maybe she was always trying to be something she wasn't.

"That's enough!" Hux ordered the crew, halting the immediate gunfire. He looked over his shoulder at Kylo. "Do you think you got him? Now, if we're ready to get moving, we can finish this."

But they didn't get him. Raena narrowed her eyes, watching the legendary Luke Skywalker emerge from the red smoke and fire surrounding him. Her stare went wide, as did Kylo's. Ever so casually, Luke dusted off his shoulder. Kylo gasped softly. Raena's eyes slid to his as she muttered, "Don't do it."

Kylo ignored her, releasing his hold on her. "Bring me down to him. Keep the door covered and don't advance until I say."

He began to turn for the door, but Raena tugged his arm back. She was doing this for a promise. She was going to keep it. Her grip was tight around his wrist, and Kylo felt her skin burn straight through his clothes. He viewed up at her, but he still had his same cold stare. Raena was shaking her head at him, ordering, "You can't –"

"Supreme Leader," Hux called, "don't get distracted. Our goal –"

Kylo thrust his hand out, sending Hux to the side again. The general screamed with annoyance, leaving Raena still pulling Kylo back. He dragged her along with him, and her boots scuffed against the floor. He was stronger than her; sometimes she forgot that. She was so close to bringing him back to the cockpit, but he finally yanked his arm away.

"YOU'RE NOT THE HERO, RAENA NHAGY!" He seethed, leaning close to her horrified expression. "You can't save me, and you can't outrun me. So you might as well join me. It's what you did in the first place, remember?"

Raena's eyes formed into slits. "You're going to wish I killed you after I tell everyone that you murdered –"

"I've heard enough," Kylo interrupted.

He waved his hand in one quick motion, and within a second, Raena was falling unconscious. She drifted into two stormtroopers' arms as Gerardo came running out of his hiding spot. "Don't touch her!" He shouted, but ended up being held back by other crewmembers. Gerardo struggled against their hold, watching his friend being carried away.

"Watch over both of them," he ordered the troopers, "and don't let them out of your sight. After we've landed, I want her taken to my quarters. That is an order."

•••

The duel between Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren had been outmatched. The roles of the Sith and Jedi were so powerful, that having both these two collide heavily impacted the galaxy as a whole. Kylo Ren had pierced his saber blade into Luke several times, but it did nothing. Luke had been projecting himself as a sheer ghost on an island, and this, eventually, was what killed him. Not his nephew's strike. This allowed the rebels to escape on the Millennium Falcon unscathed.

The Rebellion was reborn on that day. The war was just beginning. Luke Skywalker was not the last Jedi.

All the First Order had left at the moment was their command ship, and that was – somehow – not as unfortunate as the Resistance losing their entire fleet as a whole. Raena woke up in the medical bay, which was somewhat smaller than the one located on the Supremacy. She felt drained still, but she wasn't as exhausted as she was before. She imagined taking a few minutes to gather herself, but as soon as her eyes landed on a beaten Gerardo and Pacey to her right, Raena knew something was wrong. "They're coming to take you to see him," Gerardo whispered.

Raena studied the black eye on Gerardo's face, and then the bruises lining Pacey's arm. Her face twisted as she asked, "What?"

Before she could question once more, a set of stormtroopers were at her door, and it was then that she understood. They pulled her off the cot and escorted her to the Supreme Leader's newest quarters. The troopers talked amongst themselves, one asking, "A new throne room was created on this ship right?" The other responded with a nod and chuckle.

They crossed a corridor before stopping in front of an abandoned hallway. The two stormtroopers looked towards each other, and then both were staring at her. "It's down there," one of them instructed. "Good luck. Hope you don't die."

Raena's brow crinkled as the two walked away. She began to stride down the empty hall, while hearing the other trooper hit his friend and said, "She's the immortal one, you idiot!" Raena swallowed hard as she took her time to get to the door, but once she was in front of it, she didn't know what to do. She raised her hand to open it, but as soon as it sensed her presence, the door slid open for her.

Her eyes landed on Kylo Ren, sitting on recently-constructed throne. She noticed how small the room was – definitely tinier than Snoke's throne room – but she guessed they had to make do with their Supreme Leader's wishes. Raena stepped inside with ease, though she did flinch when the door automatically closed behind her. Kylo studied her movements intently as she walked in. "Officer Nhagy," he greeted.

"Supreme Leader Ren," she spoke loudly, looking around at the empty room. "I'm guessing we had no victory on Crait. I wouldn't really know because you – well – you put me to sleep."

Kylo's mouth twitched. "No victory," he finally replied, "but this meeting was needed nonetheless."

Raena frowned. "Why?" She asked with a muddled expression. "Are you gonna go through with Snoke's request and torture me? Throw me off the ship? I mean, you can't do much." She crossed her arms over her chest. "If you do anything serious, I might just let it slip that you possibly killed Snoke. I heard you have everyone believing it was Rey."

"None of that," he said. "No torture. No abandonment. No need to release any secrets. You're needed here."

Raena's face twisted. She knew that both General Hux and Kylo Ren were upset with her actions – and they should be – but was she seriously going to go without torture, even when she had the title of traitor on her back? Why was she being treated differently than other traitors? Was it honestly because she was such a vital asset, or did they truly not want her immortality and skills back in the rebels' hands? She secretly hoped he would threaten something, just so she could tell more people that he killed Snoke. If she were being honest, she really didn't think it would do much, but the threatening was sweet.

"I don't get it." She replied with a shake of her head. Raena walked towards his throne. "I'm deemed a traitor, and yet ... nothing. No repercussions."

"Do you want the truth?"

Raena wrinkled her nose. "I don't know. Do I?"

Kylo sighed before standing from his throne. He walked forward slowly, meeting her halfway. The two stood just inches apart, and he still didn't like that she was almost as tall as him. Kylo slightly raised his hand, ready to brush the light strands of hair away from her cheek, but he decided against it. "I need you here," he admitted in a defeated tone. "Maybe ... Ben Solo's care for you still resides within me."

"That's why you called me here?" Raena snapped, furrowing her brow. "To tell me you still love me? Bit anticlimactic, if you ask me."

Kylo's jaw clenched, though he ignored her comment, knowing it was only said to hide what she truly felt. He knew Raena Nhagy. He knew her far too well. He could hear her heart beating a mile a minute right then. He could feel her radiating warmth, causing his hand to go up again and finally brush the hair away from her face. Raena's teeth grit at his touch, but for the first time, she didn't push him away. It was the pit – she had fallen in again.

"We've always been better as a team, Raena Nhagy. We connected so long ago for a reason. Ben Solo – no matter how suppressed – felt something for you for a reason." He exhaled heavily through his nostrils. "I'm letting it all die. I'm creating a new order for the galaxy, one that will benefit all of us. We won't have to hide. We won't have to fear. It'll be us again – you and me – as rulers."

Raena swallowed hard, watching Kylo lay out a hand in front of her. "I want you here," he whispered, his breath fanning her face as he moved even closer. His hand was inches from her chest. "Will you join me?"

She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to do. All Raena knew was that she had a promise to fulfill. No more selfish desires; no more impulse actions. Kylo Ren told her she wasn't born to be the hero, but maybe – just maybe – she could be the hero of her own story. Raena was going to get Ben Solo back, even if it killed her over and over and over again. She would do this for the beaten down Leia Organa, a woman who treated her fairly after all the harm she'd done. The spark wasn't out, and no one could ever truly be gone. He was still in there – deep down.

And truthfully, these were the reasons that Raena Nhagy took Kylo Ren's hand in agreement.

END OF BOOK III