A/N - Hi my Lovelies!  Sorry to have left you hangin' on that cliffhanger for a couple of days.  But I'm back with more.  I think I can call this Part 2 of the story.... but I didn't start out splitting it into 2 parts so won't do it officially.  Maybe I'll go back and do that at some point.  There's much more story to come - so I hope you're enjoying it!  Please comment (I love your reactions and suggestions) and vote if you like it!  Cheers!

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"Beeeennnnnnnn!"  Rey screamed.  She jumped to her feet, wobbling slightly, her head still woozy from the blast.  Running over to where the edge of the balcony used to be, she felt a pair of hands grab her from behind.

"Rey, are you okay?"  Finn screamed.

"Yes, now let me go!"  She tried to wriggle out of his grasp.

"Rey – no!  What are you doing?  There's nothing you can do for them! It's not safe!  The whole edge of the balcony may come down!"  Finn was clearly in a panic.  Poe ran up beside her and grabbed her other arm.

She turned to them and gave a small shove.  "Finn, Poe – Let. Me. Go."  She enunciated.   "We have to help them!"

"It's too late!  Rey, do you know what vertical zone we're on?  Like the 20th  or something! They're gone..."  Finn said gently.  Poe was silent beside her.

Rey growled at him, her anger, panic and recent frustration with Finn finally getting the best of her.  "They're not gone, you idiot!   I can still feel them!   Now for the last time, let me go Finn!"

He just looked at her, before continuing quietly.  "Think Rey.   Maybe its better this way?   Better that Kylo Ren is gone.  We can all start over."

This time, Rey gave him a hard shove with the Force.  "Then why are you even here Finn?  You don't believe in what we're doing, do you?   Did you tell Leia that?"  Her face cleared.  "Gods, Leia – where is she?"  Looking around she told them.  "Go make sure she's okay – we're wasting time!!"  She sprinted away.

Reaching the edge, her gut twisted at what she might see, and terror ran through her veins.  If he was gone, what would she do?  But she didn't think he was – she could still feel him – she was certain of it.  Moving onto her stomach and peering over the side, she could see another terrace two levels below that was covered in rubble.  She breathed a small sigh of relief.  The terraces were tiered in such a way that they got narrower as you went up.  This allowed the lower ones to protrude more so as to get some sunlight too.  In this case, it had caught the debris of their terrace and the First Order officers that were at the now missing table.

Ben!  She reached out to him with her mind.  Ben, can you hear me?  Nothing – no reply.  She had to get down there.   She wasn't sure, but it felt like she couldn't feel him as strongly as before.  Hearing Finn and Poe come up behind her with Leia and Connix she stood up and told them.   "They're trapped beneath the rubble on a terrace a couple of levels below us.  I'm going down there.  Leia, Connix – are you guys ok?"

"We're fine Rey."  Leia responded shakily.  "Just – go!"

"Tell them to bring help to that terrace two levels down!"  Rey shouted, and jumped to the terrace below, using the Force to slow her descent so she landed very softly on the rubble. Reaching out, she listened with her feelings to see if there were any signs of life around her. Taking a deep breath, she realized that she could feel all 4 of them.   They were still alive.  She wasn't sure how that was possible but she knew she didn't have much time to get them out of there.

Very gently, but quickly she started using the Force to remove the debris, and soon uncovered what seemed to be General Avanti, who moaned softly when her face was uncovered.   Bit by bit she worked until all three of the Generals were uncovered – but where was Ben?  She could still feel him somewhere nearby, but didn't understand why he wasn't close to the rest of them, and was now certain that she couldn't feel him as strongly.

Closing her eyes and reaching out again, she concentrated on finding him.   She could hear the droids, stormtroopers and rescue staff arriving to help with those she had uncovered.   Ben?  Ben – where are you love?  If you can hear me, I need you to say something, do something – anything!  Worried as to why his Force signature was weakening, she began to panic, and tried to clear her head.

When she finally located him, she felt a surge of relief – until she was able to uncover him.  He was clearly very badly injured.  His face had burns all over one side of it – and his hair seemed to be singed.  There was a gash on his head that was bleeding profusely, his left arm looked crushed, and his right leg just looked weird and so was probably broken.  "Over here!"  Rey screamed.  "The Supreme Leader is over here!"  That brought more help running over – including the two young Lieutenants Tiga and Munro, and she moved out of the way so they could get him onto the stretcher.   Rey could see that they were worried about how to lift him, so she used the Force to move him onto the stretcher.  The Stormtroopers and the Lieutenants just looked at her in awe as she did it.

"He needs medical attention now!"  She commanded.  "Let's go!"

"Yes, my lady."  They rushed him off of the terrace and Rey followed.

Jogging up to Tiga, she asked.  "Where are you taking him?"

"Back to the Finalizer ma'am."  He looked up at her.  "We have a private MedBay for the Supreme Leader, and he will get the best care there."

"I'm coming with you."  Rey told him, in a firm voice that brokered no arguments.

Tiga just looked at her in shock. "But..but... ma'am... you can't!  You're from the Resistance!"

Rey narrowed her eyes at him.  "I am coming with you."  She told him, steel in her voice.  "We were here to negotiate peace between us, and were making excellent progress!  Someone just made an attempt on his life! I  don't know if that was because of these negotiations or for some other reasons, but right now, I'm not willing to leave his survival to only those in the First Order." She bit out at him, her irritation increasing.

Tiga looked plainly uncomfortable.  "But...."

Rey stopped and put her hand on Tiga's arm, and quietly told him.  "Lieutenant.  The Supreme Leader and I are friends.  He would want me here.   And...well... he might be angry if anyone prevented me from doing so."

Tiga searched her face – comprehension dawning on his, as he recalled escorting her to dinner. "Yes ma'am.  I'll take care of it.   And I'll make sure that the higher ranking officers know that you helped to rescue and save all of them – especially the Supreme Leader."  Hesitating, he went on. "I assume that the Supreme Leader would be even more upset if you were not treated well on board.  I will do my best to ensure that ma'am, but... there may be some..."

"Thank you Tiga."  She smiled.  "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself, and will be fine."

He nodded at her.   "Yes ma'am."  Hesitating again, he went on cautiously.  "Ma'am, if I may... beware of General Hux."

"I will.  Thank you again Lieutenant.  And please stop calling me ma'am – I'm probably a few years younger than you!"  She griped, as they both turned and jogged to catch up to the rest of the teams and board the shuttle to the Finalizer.

The medical droids had already started working to stabilize all of the victims while on the shuttle, and Rey couldn't get near Ben.  From a distance, she could see that they were most frantically working on him.  That combined with his weakening Force signature caused her fear and panic to spike once again.  She couldn't lose him!

She could hear alarms going off, and overheard one of the medical droids report,  "His femoral artery has been severed!  He's bleeding out!"  She could feel his Force signature becoming weaker and weaker.  She was losing him!

"No!"  Rey whispered, running over and shoving people out of her way.  "Move dammit!"  She yelled.

"Who the hell are you?"  One of the staff asked.  "We're trying to save his life here!"

"Yes, and he's bleeding out!  I can help him if you'll just get out of my way!"  She growled, using the Force to push the man away.  She closed her eyes and placed her hand over his right leg near the hip, feeling where his lifeblood was ebbing away.  She quieted her mind and used the Force to temporarily stop the blood from flowing out through the artery.  She could hear the alarm slow down.

Very quietly and calmly she told those around her, with eyes closed.  "I have stopped the blood from exiting the wound, and can hold it for now, but we need to get him to the ship ASAP so he doesn't lose his leg."

Those around her watched in utter fascination and awe as she continued to hold her concentration, and Kylo's vitals improved marginally.    Once they got to the Finalizer, Rey's presence caused another stir, but Tiga helped to smooth the way a bit, making sure everyone stayed out of their way until they got the Supreme Leader to the MedBay.  There a team of doctors were waiting for their arrival, who immediately ushered him behind a set of swinging doors.  They began cutting his clothing off of him and preparing for surgery.  Once they were ready, they told her to let go.

Taking a deep breath, before releasing her hold, she spoke to him in her mind.  I love you.  Please don't leave me.  Breaking her hold, she stepped back and let the doctors take over.   Tiga was at her side to usher her out of the room.

She realized that she was shaking and a bit lightheaded.  Looking up at Tiga, her eyes filled with tears.  "He could die."  She whispered brokenly.

Tiga smiled gently.  "These doctors are the very best in the galaxy.  You got him here.  They'll keep him alive and whole – trust me."

Nodding, she took a deep breath.  Tiga also informed her that General Pride was currently in command, and wanted to see her immediately.   Rey growled in frustration, but knew there was nothing she could do.

When Rey arrived in Pride's office he looked her up and down as if she were a bug to be squashed.   "You may wait outside Tiga."  Pride said, dismissing him.  Not wanting to antagonize the general, Rey was silent, waiting for the General to speak before saying anything.  "I am told that you were instrumental in rescuing our officers and in particular the Supreme Leader.   Is that true?"  He asked, skepticism clearly evident in his voice.

"Yes."  Rey answered.

"May I ask why?"  He looked at her in puzzlement.

Taken aback, Rey answered.  "I'm not sure what you mean?"

"Why would you help the First Order staff?   Why help the Supreme Leader – help keep him alive? Wouldn't it be of greater benefit to you if he were dead?"  Pride baited.

"General – Pride?  Is it?  Sir..."  She took a breath.  "We were there negotiating for peace with the First Order in good faith.  If we truly believed that we'd be better off with him dead, why would we even go through that?"  She asked, clearly frustrated with his line of questioning.

"I don't know."  He replied.  "Maybe to get him out in the open, in a vulnerable setting, so you could make an attempt on his life?"

"Ah, I see now."  Rey quipped back, getting angry.  "So that's the most logical explanation, right? That the Resistance is behind the attack.  But it doesn't make sense that I would help them all – help him – if that was the case."

Pride continued to stare at Rey.  "So tell me, why are you here then? You helped them out of the rubble.  Made sure they got medical attention.  Yet you dared come to the Finalizer.  Why?"

Rey stared back at him for minute to collect her thoughts, wondering what she could tell him. "The Supreme Leader and I are acquaintances – "

Pride cut her off.  "Oh, I'm well aware of that.  You're the Scavenger he has referred to in a less than friendly manner, many times."

Great.  She thought.  Narrowing her gaze at him, she continued.  "While we may have been at odds at one time, Kylo Ren and I are no longer enemies.  You can ask Lt. Tiga, and he will tell you as much.  But also, I truly believe that the Supreme Leader is the key to peace between us and the First Order, and given that someone just attempted to kill him – and we don't know who that is – I for one do not want to leave it open to chance to possibly allow that someone to try again if they are from within the First Order."

Pride's mouth fell open, and sarcasm dripped from his tongue.  "Do you really think that you could do anything to stop it if the attack came from within, and they tried again?"

"He is a Force user, and I am a Force user."  She shrugged.   "I'd bet he'd trust me with his life at this point more than you or any of your somewhat incompetent Stormtroopers."

"I see."  Pride's face went red.  He steepled his fingers and was silent again.  "And you think I should trust you with my life?   For if the Supreme Leader wakes and is displeased at your presence, he will take it out on me."

Rey growled in exasperation.  "It won't come to that, but if it does, you can tell him I mind tricked you.  He knows well enough that you'd be powerless against that."

"And have you?  Mind tricked me?"  He asked incredulously.

"General, if I had intended to mind trick you I'd already be sitting back in the MedBay with your blessing.  And you'd be none the wiser."  She smiled at him innocently.

He pondered again for a few minutes, while Rey just sat and waited for what he'd say next.  "Very well.  You may stay aboard – but you will be limited to the MedBay, and you will have 2, no 4, Stormtroopers as constant escorts.  Am I clear?"

She nodded, standing up to leave.  "Understood.  Thank you General."  She turned to leave, and then turned back.   "Actually, I have one more small request."

Pride's face showed his irritation at her audacity.  "What is it?"

Rey hesitated, not quite sure how to begin.   "It would seem.... that General Hux... may mean me harm...."

Pride sat back in his chair and studied her.  "I am the most senior commanding officer on this ship while the Supreme Leader is indisposed.  You have my word that no harm will come to you while you are here."

"Thank you General."  She turned once again to leave.

"But Lady Scavenger,"  Rey turned to face him once again,  "should the Supreme Leader awaken and wish you harm, there will be no hope for you.   Am I clear?"

Rey gave him a sincere and genuine smile, which caught him totally off guard.  "Completely. Thank you again, General."

Upon exiting the room, she found Tiga waiting for her.  "Apparently I'm to have no fewer than 4 Stormtroopers to escort me while I'm here."  Just as Tiga's brows raised, the sounds of a number approaching troopers could be heard.

"We're here to assist in escorting our guest to the Supreme Leader's MedBay."  The squad leader told Tiga, who sighed and motioned for Rey to follow.

Tiga shook his head and whispered to Rey.  "Somehow, I don't think this is going to go over well with the Supreme Leader."

Rey chuckled.   "I tried.   This'll be on Pride, not you."  After a beat she added quietly.  "Tiga.  I would ask, if possible, that you not broadcast the.....depth of my friendship with the Supreme Leader to anyone and everyone."

He looked up at her and laughed, shaking his head.  "Trust me. No one would believe me anyways."

When they got to the MedBay it was a hive of activity.   Medical droids, doctors and nurses were busy running around, mostly coming in and out of the set of doors at the end of a hallway that led to the surgery, where she assumed Ben still was.  She wanted to see him, but figured that they were probably not anywhere near done treating him, so asked Tiga if it was possible to get one of the staff to update her on his condition.  He nodded, and left her sitting in a waiting area, telling her not to try to leave or go anywhere, else the Stormtroopers outside take exception to that.

She sat wringing her hands and trying to calm herself.  He was still alive – she could feel him, but still only weakly, and that unnerved her.

Tiga returned with a doctor a few minutes later, and introduced her as Lady Rey, as she stood to greet him.  The doctor simply nodded and didn't question the request for an update.  "We're still working on him.  He's in rough shape.  His left arm was crushed and will need surgery to insert mechanical supports, he has a nasty gash on his head, with a likely concussion, and his right leg is broken.  As I think you're aware, there was significant damage to the Femoral artery, so we're lucky that he didn't bleed out on the way here.  I understand that you helped with that."

She took a deep breath and nodded, closing her eyes to try to keep from starting to cry.  "Will he be alright?"  She asked quietly.

The doctor looked at her with fresh eyes at her quietly whispered question.   "Yes.  Of course."  He told her gently.  "He's been banged up worse than this before."  He put his hand on her shoulder.  "It'll take some time, but he'll be fine.  He's particularly hard to kill."  The doctor said on a smile.

Rey nodded, her throat tight, a tear escaping her treacherous eyes.   "Thank you Doctor.  When do you think I might be able to see him?"

The doctor just continued to stare in shock at the young woman in front of him who was crying over the Supreme Leader's well being.  Previously when Kylo Ren had been brought in for medical attention, no one, not even Supreme Leader Snoke, nor Hux, nor any of the other Generals had asked about his condition, nor his welfare.   To have this slip of a girl crying over him was baffling indeed.  He looked over at Lt. Tiga, who just shrugged.

"He'll be in surgery for several more hours.  We had to rush him in to repair the damage to the femoral artery, and once the leg is re-set, we'll start on the arm.  We'll apply Bacta to the burns on his face – his tunic and cloak saved him from burns elsewhere.  The concussion could be a concern though.  It may take a few days before he wakes.  But, you can probably see him in 2 or 3 hours."

"Thank you again, Doctor."   She whispered.

His heart went out to this young woman, who so clearly cared about the Supreme Leader.  "I'll have somebody come and find you, and take you to him when he's done.  Okay?"

She nodded at the doctor.  "In the meantime, why don't we see to your injuries?"  He asked, looking over at Tiga for permission, who also nodded.  Rey just looked back at them in confusion.

"Lady Rey.   Have you seen yourself?  You have cuts, bruises and burns all over your face, arms and legs that I can see."  She looked down at herself in shock, and the doctor chuckled gently. "Worry will sometimes do that to a person – block out the fact that you're injured and in pain too.  Please come with me and I'll have one of our nurses patch you up."

Rey looked over at Tiga who told her.  "You do look pretty banged up, actually.  Go.  Let them fix you up.  Or this'll be on me, and I don't want to have to answer to the Supreme Leader for it."  He smiled.  "I'll be here when you're done."

She was still in a bit of a state of shock, and so let the nurses fuss over her.   They were all talking about how she was a hero – she had rescued all the First Order Generals as well as the Supreme Leader, and couldn't believe that she was a Resistance member as well.  She let them clean her cuts and apply Bacta to her burns.  One of the wounds on her arm even required a few stitches. Great - another scar she thought.

During their kind ministrations, she eventually let her mind drift, her thoughts speeding a mile a minute.  She almost lost him!  Someone had tried to kill him!   Was it someone in the First Order? Or someone else?  He had mentioned the military action against a planet yesterday, so maybe it was connected to that?  Taking a deep breath, she knew she needed to calm down.  But she had been so scared, and was so very grateful to be here on the Finalizer with him.  Thinking about her friends, she realized that Finn and Poe would likely be freaking out, but Leia probably knew that Rey would not be able to stay away, so hopefully she could calm them down so they didn't do anything stupid.  She wondered if there was any way to contact them, just to let them know she was alright.  However, if Poe really had seen her with Ben, he's probably upset and might not want to talk to her just yet... she should let Leia know at the very least though.

At some point, she must have drifted off, and the nurses just let her stay in the bed and sleep for awhile.  Maybe her gut instincts were right – that not everyone in the First Order was evil.  Was the organization even evil any more under Ben's rule?

She awoke to see Tiga sitting at her bedside.  Blinking rapidly, she immediately sat up.  "I...I didn't mean to fall asleep.  I'm sorry.  How long was I out?"  She asked him.

"About 4 hours."  He told her, and she gasped.  "Don't worry about it.   The Supreme Leader just got out of surgery a few minutes ago, so you would've just been waiting around and worrying anyways.  I'm sure you'll do enough of that for the next few days, so it was probably good that you got some sleep."  He grinned at her.

Looking down at her arms and legs, she was covered in a multitude of bandages.  The nurse walked up to her and handed her an envelope. " Here are your scans.  You may be a bit banged up, but other than that, you're a healthy young woman.  You still need to take care of yourself though, okay?"

Rey just smiled and thanked her.   "Can I see Be-..the Supreme Leader now?"

"He's still out, and will likely be that way for the rest of the night, but I can take you to him."

Thanking her again, Rey followed close behind her, with Lt.Tiga on her heels.