Chapter 33 - Complete Circle (1/2)

In another part of the complex, Luke advanced through the corridors along with Artoo masking his presence with the Force Immersion. Even though he could use this long lost technique which was created by the Fallanasi eons before, the truth was that he could only use it for short intervals so Luke still had to make use of his stealth abilities.

- ”Do you really think that the base will be infiltrated?”- he heard a stormtrooper comment.

- ”Follow the plan and be on alert”- said another

Luke knew that this was a trap. It was impossible that the enemy hadn't seen the infiltration in advance. They surely would not know the method but they really thought very highly of them trusting that they would infiltrate. He found an empty corner and unmasked himself. Immediately he perceived Kylo Ren and other Force sėnsɨtɨvė around him that surely would feel him also.

- ”Show me the schematics”- said Luke and Artoo immediately connected to the main system and displayed the holographic image and Luke found his objective- ”Good... stay here and wait for my signal.”

- ”Beep beep boop beep”- replied Artoo.

Luke dashed to the control room and entered. The room was full of stormtroopers and officer of the First Order. He immediately waved his hand and made three close stormtroopers hit heavely on the wall getting knocked down immediately.

- ”The enemy is here!”- shouted an officer trying to push a buŧŧon on the panel near him- ”sound the...”

Luke made him fly against other officer and immediately he ignited his lightsaber just on time when the stormtroopers opened fire. Luke deflected and returned the blaster fire against the enemies who could do nothing except fall to the floor in defeat.

- ”Artoo”- said Luke turning off his lightsaber- ”find Rey and deactivate all the security systems in the prison area and the generator room”

- ”Boop boop beep beep broop”- said Artoo and immediately accessed the system- ”Beep beep”

- ”Good job”- said Luke and activated his intercom device calling for Han.

- ”Hey Luke!”- said Han responding to the call- ”what you've got?”

- ”The safety locks of the prison area and the Shield Generator area are lifted”- said Luke- ”I'll head to the shield generator area so hurry and free Rey. She is in the block 8232A, Cell number 413.”

- ”On our way”- said Han and he cut off the communication.

- ”Let's go Artoo”- said Luke and immediately walked to the door but not before destroying the equipment of the room to stop anyone from reactivating the security systems.

- ”Artoo...”-he said patting his blue droid friend- ”use an alternative route and go to the shield room”

- ”Beep boop bopp”- beeped Artoo in a complaining tone.

- ”I must continue alone”- said Luke grabbing his lightsaber- ”I'll catch up with you soon.”

Artoo complained but finally decided that he would only put Luke in risk if he decided to go on so he reluctantly went away. Luke smiled at him and then he erased the smile and started to advance and around the corner he saw a familiar figure who had just passed a door which was closing behind him. Luke also noticed that another door was sealing his escape route behind him. They did not say a thing and they just stared at each other letting the memories wash them over. Luke knew the conflict was inevitable but he would lie if he said that he wanted it to happen.

(...)

Prison Area

- ”It's very kind of you to give yourself to us, FN-2187”- said Phasma with a confident and mocking tone- ”and you also brought us Han Solo as a gift. I will put that in your favor during the martial court.”

- ”So it was a trap”- said Finn not being particularly surprised since it was something they had considered during the strategy meeting.

- ”Well it was a possibility”- said Han preparing his blaster.

- ”She's a sweetheart”- said Han making a signal with his hands and Chewee and Finn got ready- ”I like that... OK! I'll raise my hands so you can see them.”

He showed raised his hands but along with his blaster and along with Chewee and Finn opened fire catching may stormtroopers by surprise.

- ”Open fire!”- ordered Phasma and she also used her F-11D rifle and returned fire.

- ”Get to Rey and free her”- said Han pointing at the door that would lead to the prison cells- ”we'll clean this and give you a chance”

- ”Ok”

- ”Now!”- said Han and threw a thermal detonator at the platoon that was fighting them and Finn started running without any doubt evading some blaster shots that flew in his direction.

The stormtroopers scattered and the explosion caught many of them due to the limitation in space. Finn was also shaken but he somehow maintained his equilibrium and dashed throught the door which opened and closed in an automatic movement but due to the explosion it seemed to have been stuck. He shot at the control panel and it made the door close extremely slow. Finn decided to keep on but he saw a figure go through the space of the closing door with great agility.

- ”No way!”- he said and immediately opened fire but the figure arrived in front of him almost instantly and pushed the blaster away while making a hold to secure Finn's arm. Finn let himself go along with the movement reflectively and managed to lessen the impact force also trying to get a hold of his enemy's arms using his legs.

His enemy was too proficient and immediately moved along Finn's flow and managed to use it against him while positioning herself in an advantageous position. Finn's mind shouted in alert since he knew that if he was a milisecond slower he would have his both arms broken so he forced his wrists to bend more than possible and shoot two blasters which went directly on his opponent's helmet. Surprisingly the blaster shots rebound on it making no damage but at least this made his opponent to release the hold but not before forcing Finn to throw away the blaster.

- ”You misjudged many things about me”- said Finn taking the lightsaber on his waist and igniting it.

- ”Interesting”- said Phasma taking a spear from her back which immediately opened a mechanism that enlarged it by three times- ”lets see how proficient you are with that toy.”

Finn started to breathe and tried to focus. Captain Phasma was one of the most powerful warriors in the First Order since she had come from a race which used a very cruel and merciless upbringing in which both men ans women were taught to be warriors from childhood and were sent into tests which were mortal and made them cold and effective ȧssassins with not a shred of mercy. For them, the weak were prey and the strong were king. Concepts like love, compassion, humility and similar were only weaknesses that they would exploit without any shame. The constant in-fighting among the different clans and families of the planet of Parnassos was the perfect environment for the creation of skilled and deadly ȧssassins. From all of them, Phasma was the best and she was feared even in the highest ranks of the most veteran and renowned first class ȧssassins.

- ”Since you are being a gentleman”- said Phasma and Finn could imagine the grin behind her helmet- ”I'll have the first move... please don't die so fast”

She moved just too fast and Finn had the impression that she had teleported to his position. He bȧrėly managed to block her spear but instead of being cut in half, it managed to push the lightsaber blade back. The surprise was so hard that his defense was broken and Finn received two consecutive hits that sent him to the floor.

(...)

Both force sėnsɨtɨvė stared at each other until finally Kylo Ren ignited his cross lightsaber. Luke immediately ignited his and waited for his opponent next move.

- ”We finally meet, Skywalker”- said Kylo Ren advancing with a relaxed and confident gait- ”I'm glad you finally stop hiding and decided to accept you fate.”

- ”It was inevitable, my young padawan- said Luke using an analytical gaze- ”you seem even more powerful than the last time we saw each other.”

- ”Something is wrong with him, master”- had another padawan warned him- ”he is restless and sometimes he loses his temper and he seemed to be frustrated.”

- ”Do you think the visions can be stopped?”- Kylo had asked when Luke had talked to him.

- ”What visions do you have?”- had Luke asked with worry.

- ”Visions of death and destruction”- Kylo had said- ”everything that I love destroyed.”

- ”Be careful with those visions”- said Luke- ”sometimes our actions to avoid those visions are the trigger for making them true... that's what happened with my father.”

- ”I know...”- said Kylo and Luke could see the frustration in his eyes- ”in his dėsɨrė to avoid his visions, he was the one who made them true...”

- ”That's why we must be careful with those visions”- had Luke affirmed.

- ”Anakin Skywalker turned into Darth Vader”- said Kylo Ren who looked a little hesitant- ”he sacrificed many things but he got a incredible power in return...”

- ”Yes, but that ath only brought him pain and suffering”- had replied Luke noticing the change in the young man.

- ”But only after countless years of domination and suffering”- said Luke.

- ”But if they are made to create a better future...”- Kylo tried to argue- ”isn't sacrifice a worthy price to pay.”

- ”Be careful, Ben...”- had said Luke seriously- ”once that idea gets rooted in one's mind, one does not care how many are sacrificed and even holocausts are justified in one's eyes. Forced sacrifices are never a good foundation for the future.”

- ”Yes master”- said Kylo but Luke had already sensed the dark side in the young man.