The Broken Edge, Chapter 62: Downfall

[ladyofleithian]

 Luke arrives on the scene with Alora and things go to hell. 

Disclaimer: I own nothing. 

It was in this room, this place, that Ben already felt as if their destinies were being decided. Uncle Luke and Aunt Alora on one side, Snoke on the other -- three people that Ben loved utterly, three people that he couldn’t bear to see face off. Three people that even looking from Uncle Luke and Aunt Alora to Snoke, Ben couldn’t feel more torn. 

 

“Thank the Force that you’re all right, Ben,” Uncle Luke said. “Did he hurt you?”

 

“He didn’t. He really didn’t.” Ben swallowed. “Uncle Luke, you’ve got to understand -- ’’

 

“How can I understand?”

 

Ben stood between them, suddenly stricken with love -- not the love he felt for Poe, but the love he felt for two paternal figures, two beings who had guided him over the years, two beings he had adored. Two beings he could not bear to have, so suddenly, turn on one another, or for that matter die. He couldn’t bear the idea. Even standing between them, he prayed that they would not so much as raise either of their lightsabers. Please, stars, don’t let them --

 

He stood between the both of them, feeling love already so powerful that it was practically about to burst out of him. By the Force, don’t let them raise their sabers against each other. Let them be at peace. Let them...

 

“Uncle,” Ben said. “Please, don’t hurt him. He’s hurt, he needs help -- ’’

 

“I know,” Uncle Luke said, “And I’m not going to hurt him.” Unless I have to, was the unspoken message. And Ben was already frightened for what was going to happen, to all four of them. 

 

***

 

Luke stepped forward, and already, he felt as if he were making the first steps towards the place where there was no return. 

 

“I come in peace.”

 

Yana looked at him critically. “Your weapon says otherwise.”

 

“I know. I’m not going to use it. I have no intentions to strike.”

 

Yana tilted his head. “Curious. You are sincere, aren’t you?”

 

“I have no desire to hurt you,” Luke said. “I have no desire for things to come to blows. Surrender, Yana, and we may yet show you mercy.”

 

“The name Yana was a fiction. A necessary one. You never would have let me live if you knew who I really was.”

 

“Who are you, then?”

 

Silence. 

 

After that silence, with Yana rumbling his name for Luke to hear, Luke felt a sudden chill. Snoke had been there all along. Snoke had infiltrated the Order. And Luke hadn’t known. 

 

“How?”

 

“It’s not like it hasn’t been done before,” said Snoke. “I do regret that I had to lie to you, Skywalker. I would have preferred speaking to you Leader to leader, telling you the truth, but your response would have been far from beneficial to me. You never would have understood. There would have been too much belief in the Code for you.”

 

“What is there to understand?”

 

Silence. Then, “Master Skywalker, have you ever heard of the concept of ren?”

 

“Fate. Balance,” Luke said. “But you haven’t answered my question, Ya -- Snoke. What is there to understand?”

 

“All this, all of it exists because I seek balance.”

 

Luke could have laughed in disbelief. “Balance? How is resurrecting the Empire going to bring balance?”

 

“We’re not resurrecting the Empire. We’re making a stronger one from the ashes of the old.” 

 

“How will that bring balance?”

 

“More than the Republic ever could. Or the Jedi Order.”

 

Across from him, Ben gave him a pleading look. “Just listen to what he has to say,” he said. “He has good reasons for it. I know he does.”

 

“Ben,” Luke said, “You can’t possibly agree with him, can you?”

 

“You don’t know what the orphanage on Milara did to him,” Ben said. “They tortured him.” Beat. “Do you want to live in a galaxy that lets atrocities like these happen?”

 

“No. But Ben...surely his way isn’t the way to do it.”

 

“Is the Republic’s way any better?” Ben said. “Is yours? After all, where were you when other beings were suffering? Where were you, uncle?”

 

“I couldn’t rush in rashly -- ’’

 

Snoke scoffed. “A Jedi euphemism for cowardice. You continue to amaze me, Skywalker.”

 

“I -- ’’

 

“You are a coward. Completely and utterly. You...you couldn’t even stand up to the Emperor. Or your father. In terms of your cowardice, it knows no bounds.”

 

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Luke said. “And I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you into custody, Snoke. For everyone’s good.”

 

He could swear in that moment that Ben’s breath hitched in horror. Luke couldn't say he liked this either. But if it meant saving others’ lives, he would do it in a heartbeat.

 

***

 

If Ben was going to admit it, he didn’t like what he was doing, actually. He didn’t like what he felt he had no choice but to do. But if he could keep his uncle from killing Snoke, or capturing him, it would all be worthwhile. 

 

He never dreamed he would be fighting his uncle, of course. He never dreamed that he would actually be doing this. 

 

But if necessary...

 

He ignited his lightsaber and let it connect with his uncle’s. The look of betrayal and shock on his uncle’s face...Ben swore that it would be burned into his memory. But he had to save Snoke, he had to stop his uncle, he had to do something. He couldn't simply do nothing. 

 

He just hoped his uncle would forgive him. 

 

***

 

The last thing that Luke expected was his nephew’s lightsaber connecting with his. 

 

“Ben,” he said, “Put the lightsaber away. Please.”

 

“This isn’t me,” Ben said. “I don’t want to fight you, Uncle, but please, put the lightsaber away.”

 

“I’m not going to hurt him, Ben -- ’’

 

“You’ll do what you have to, then?” Ben said. “What happened to the idea that all life was sacred, even that of a Ren leader’s? Any Dark Sider’s, actually?” Beat. “Please. Help him.”

 

And Luke knew that Ben, in that moment, could see into him too well. Ben always had that gift, and in that moment, it seemed like more of a curse than a blessing. Ben was in his way. He was actively hindering Luke from doing what needed to be done. 

 

“It’s not like that at all, Ben.”

 

“But you’ll take him out if you have to,” Ben said. “Is that right?”

 

Silence. 

 

“You’ll torture him if you don’t.”

 

“Ben, I won’t -- ’’

 

“You will,” Ben said, “Snoke told me.” 

 

“I just need to take him into custody.”

 

“I can’t let you.”

 

“You have to let me,” Luke said. Why couldn’t Ben see things his way? He couldn’t possibly be going over to Snoke’s side, was he? 

 

Even that thought was too terrifying to even consider. 

 

Ben shook his head. “I’m sorry, Uncle.”

 

It was only a lucky break that kept Ben from severing his hand, and Luke dueled against his nephew -- the last thing that he honestly expected in this moment. 

 

Green. Blue. Green. Blue. That was how the blades went. That was how the duel went. Back and forth, back and forth, pressing against one another. Luke spoke in that moment. “I don’t want to kill you, Ben.”

 

“But you will if necessary?”

 

“No. I don’t want to kill you at all. Please, Ben, just step aside. Let me through.”

 

“No.”

 

“Just step aside, Ben -- ’’

 

“I won’t let you.”

 

Luke deactivated his lightsaber and held out his hand, ready to freeze Ben in place --

 

-- only for Ben to get to him first. Across from him, Alora ran towards Snoke, only for Snoke to freeze her as well. 

 

The last thing that Luke saw before he blacked out was Ben’s horrified, remorseful face. .