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Episode 9 Trailer is Here!

Be still my heart.

[whillsofstars]

Chapter 14

REY-----------------------------------------------------

It seemed like barely any time had passed since Rey took her first steps on the craggy island where she had first begun her journey as a Jedi. Back then, there were so many questions, so many details of her life left unknown, and while she had come farther than she imagined at the time, there was still so much left unanswered.

The thundering crash of the ocean’s waves upon the enduring rock of the island - Luke’s island - brought her mind back to the present. She had come for a reason, and that reason was to find Kylo Ren. Still, she wasn’t entirely sure what would happen when she found him.

Taking one quick look back at the Falcon and making sure she had closed the landing pad (preventing another infestation of porgs), she began her ascent up the ancient steps cut into the rugged terrain.

The imposing rock of the island was carpeted with the same, lush greenery she remembered from her last visit. Could it have really been over a year since she last stepped foot on Ahch-To? Time was funny that way. A year had passed before her and she hardly felt as if much had changed since she first made contact with the legendary Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. And yet, so much was different. She was different.

Her mind moved to the memory of Luke’s first lesson about the living Force. Out of instinct, she placed her hand firmly into the plush greens covering the island and closed her eyes, giving into the interconnected world of the Force. Warm and cold. Life. Death. Peace and violence. The balance. She could still feel it all at once. Everything existed together, even the light and the dark.

But there was a difference in the dualities of the island that didn’t exist before. Now, she could feel him - Kylo - and with him, a tumultuous energy, almost like a battle waging itself across time and space between both of the life forces that resided within his soul. I’ve seen raw strength like this only once before, a voice whispered in her memory.

A slow breath escaped her lips. She needed to recenter herself. Kylo’s wild Force signature threatened to overcome her calm, meditative state.

When peace settled back into her mind, she pushed her energy outwards trying to pinpoint his exact location.

Almost instantly, surprise overtook her emotions and her eyes snapped open to meet the gaze of those standing just before her. A gasp escaped her lips as she struggled to maintain her footing, preventing herself from falling backwards.

The source of the shock stood just mere inches away from where she stopped to meditate. While still struggling to regain her balance, Rey’s eyes rose to meet the gaze of the one before her, Alcida-Auka, the matron of Ahch-To’s caretakers.

“Alcida!” Rey gasped. “Where did you come from?”

Alcida-Auka continued to stare searchingly, as if trying to stitch together the meaning behind Rey’s return. Rey didn’t know much about Alcida-Auka, other than how highly intelligent she was...and that she was one of the caretakers who was almost crushed by the boulder Rey split in two with her saber...and that she was one of the first to respond to the damage Rey had caused to her hut. Come to think of it, Rey was almost certain that Alcida-Auka must have been thankful to see Rey leave. Admittedly, Rey always felt bad about that.

Alcida-Auka continued to stare at her, arms crossed. Her gray lips pursed into a fine line.

When it seemed that neither of them would be the first to break the silence, Rey let out a long sigh. She had some apologies to make. “Alcida, I ask for your forgiveness and the forgiveness of the other caretakers,” she began, casting her eyes down before continuing. “I left a lot of damage the last time I stayed with you.”

She paused at the memory of her first visit, so eager was she to begin training with Luke Skywalker. Being back on the island and knowing that he wouldn’t be here reopened the wound that she had believed had been healed. A lump began rising in her throat, threatening to bring tears to her eyes.

Seeing Rey’s distress, Alcida-Auka shed her icy demeanor and gently placed a weathered hand on her shoulder, offering what little comfort she could. “No one’s ever really gone, child,” she said in her gentle, motherly tone.

Rey’s head snapped up so that she had a better look at Alcida-Auka. “You speak Basic?” she asked in complete surprise. Being from a planet as remote as Ahch-To without modern technology, Rey had assumed that Basic had missed the Lanai. In fact, not a single one of the caretakers had spoken to her the last time she was here.

“We’ve had visitors like yourself come and go since the beginning of the Lanai,” she clarified. “At some point, one of them shared this language with us so that we could better assist future visitors.”

Now she understood. The caretakers had been giving her the cold shoulder as punishment for the damage she caused.

“There’s been more visitors to Ahch-To?” Rey had assumed that no one had known about this little planet.

“Jedi Skywalker was not the first, no,” Alcida-Auka confirmed. “The temple has called to a handful of others since its birth. All of them took this knowledge to their deaths.”

“Were they all Jedi?”

“No. Some were children of the Dark. Others did not possess the gift,” she said casually.

Rey paused a moment to consider this.

Sensing her opening, Alcida-Auka posed a question of her own. “Why have you returned to us?” she demanded. “You left in such a hurry the last time, the Lanai believed that to be the last we would ever see of you.”

“Oh.” Yes it was true. She did leave in quite the rush. After discovering the truth about Ben Solo and Luke’s betrayal, Rey rushed straight to Kylo Ren naively believing what her vision had shown her when they touched hands.

It would appear as though not much had changed, for she found herself yet again chasing after Kylo Ren.

“Alcida, I’m actually here because I’m looking for someone,” she began. “Is there a man visiting Ahch-To now? He’s quite large - tall, that is - taller than me. His skin is pale. Dark hair. Deep brown eyes.”

Alcida-Auka said nothing as if considering whether or not to help Rey in her search.

“Please Alcida, it’s very important that I find him,” she practically begged.

“He’s here,” she said curtly. “But let me make this clear young one. Bloodshed is forbidden on the home of the temple,” she warned waving one small, gray finger in Rey’s direction.

“Alcida, I’m not -”

“Is that understood?” Alcida-Auka said cutting her off.

“Yes, of course,” she said, surprised at her sternness.

“Good,” she said with a nod before turning around and making her way back up the side of the island. “I’ll take you to him, but first I will show you where you shall stay,” she called not bothering to address Rey, who was now trailing behind her.

“Why is it that the children of the light and dark never get along?” she mused more to herself than to Rey.

Together, they climbed the steep steps carved into the side of the island. All around them porgs were fluttering about, minding their own business. While she didn’t want another family to take up residence in the Falcon, Rey had to admit there birds were a little cute in their own way. There was something about their round, sad faces that seemed to soften her heart.

They were about half way between the Falcon’s landing pad and the ancient huts when tiny droplets made contact with her cheek announcing the fast approaching downpour.

Rey quickly withdrew a poncho from her satchel and draped it over her head and shoulders. It was just in time, for the second she threw it on, the rain grew harder. Alcida-Auka had nothing to shield herself against the pelting rain, though it didn’t seem as though she minded. Not too long ago, Rey would have been elated to let the water fall upon her skin, forming small rivers across her body if the rain was heavy enough. Water was such a precious commodity on Jakku, but here, there was an abundance of it. Its coolness against her skin refreshed her mind, body, and spirit. To think she spent years in the desert without experiencing the true healing effects of water. But now, she was all too quick to shield herself from the small, glass-like droplets that she once welcomed with joy.

Well, maybe a few things have changed, she mused.

Soon enough, they reached the cluster of stone huts nested on the side of second highest peak on the island, which provided a spectacular view of the ocean below them.

Alcida-Auka led Rey to the hut settled slightly higher than the rest. Rey secretly cursed Alcida’s choice. It was Luke’s hut. The metal door still hung ascue after Chewbacca had ripped it off entirely. Inside, the small space appeared seemingly undisturbed with what little possessions he kept arranged neatly in crevices around the perimeter. Old blankets were settled, neatly folded on a stone slab that barely passed for a bed. Next to it, an old wooden chest rested on the floor.

Rey paused a moment, considering the chest. A pull like two magnets was drawing her closer and closer to the chest. She had felt this same pull once before on Takodana.

“Be careful what you find,” she warned as Rey bent down, pulling back the lid with a creak in protest.

With the exceptions of one bundled mass of fabric she was surprised to find it empty. Rey retrieved the bundle, which was heavier than she expected and slowly began to unwrap the layers of cloth. When she finally removed the last piece, the silver hilt of a lightsaber lay resting in her hands.

Rey turned it over, admiring the craftsmanship of the hilt. This blade, despite its apparent age, was in near-perfect condition, as if the time that overtook Luke’s features had completely passed over the saber entirely. It was beautiful, a true work of art that concealed the purpose of the blade.

And now it calls to you, a voice from a distant memory insisted.

Rey had an urge to ignite Skywalker’s blade and take in the full beauty of this elegant weapon, but decided against it, remembering that Alcida-Auka was still with her. The last thing Rey needed was to accidentally cause more damage to the property the Lanai were charged to maintain, so she wrapped it back up and returned it to the chest.

Rey turned to Alcida-Auka and asked, “The man who came here earlier, was he not interested in the lightsaber?”

Alcida-Auka almost chuckled at her question. Rey’s brows furrowed in puzzlement.

The eldest caretaker looked up at her then. “When I was about to offer him this hut, he stopped dead in his tracks,” she recalled. “And then he told me that he ‘would never share the same space as Skywalker.’”

At the memory Alcida-Auka released a small laugh before continuing, “His face, pale as it already was, turned even whiter as if he encountered a spirit. I gave him one of the huts at the farthest end of the colony.”

“Oh,” was all Rey managed to say. It dawned on her then that Kylo was still scarred by his uncle’s attempted murder. How sad, she thought.

“He made his way to the Jedi temple earlier this morning. There is where you will find him.”

“Thank you Alcida,” she said quietly.

Alcida-Auka gave a silent nod and shuffled toward the door, but paused before opening it and turned to address Rey. “Remember what I said,” she warned, waving a finger in her direction. “Bloodshed is forbidden here.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

Alcida-Auka gave her a hard look, weighing the truth of her words. When Rey remained silent, Alcida-Auka seemed to accept her promise, and with a final, curt nod, exited Luke’s hut, leaving Rey alone.

Now that she was removed from the scrutinizing eyes of Alcida-Auka, Rey returned to the chest and hurriedly retrieved the saber. She didn’t want to admit it then, but she was secretly thrilled to find another saber, and in such good condition. She turned the weapon gingerly over in her hands. There was something about this saber, much like the one she carried, that called to her deep down in her spirit. Why this family’s swords drew her in so much, she didn’t know.

She glanced behind her at the door, as if she could feel Alcida-Auka’s glare penetrate the thin metal. But for now, she was truly alone. She had to know what this blade looked like alive.

Rey cast her worries aside. The saber ignited with a dull hiss, casting a green glow on the objects around the hut. The hum of it seemed to mingle with the energy of the Force within her - within all things. Like the first time she practiced with her saber, when she held it ignited in her hand, it was as if nothing else mattered. There was just her, the blade, and the embrace of the Force around them. Rey felt alive, as the adrenaline rushed through her veins.

“Wow,” was all she managed to say before flipping the switch and returned it to the chest, making a mental note to come back for it later. She had her own ideas in mind for a new construction, one that would better fit her fighting style. Rey wondered if Kylo would help her with it like he had when she was repairing the one they split in two. She couldn’t be certain of his motives. Which begged the question: could he really be persuaded to come back to the light?

There’s someone who still could, the same voice as before echoed in her memory.

Maybe she’s right. Rey had sensed something different about him when the bond opened again. This time, there may be a chance.

-------------

Time seemed to move slowly as Rey continued the trek up the unforgiving terrain of Ahch-To. A few of the ancient steps crumbled beneath her feet, the mix of salt, wind, and time had worn them down to their now fragile state. The higher she climbed, the faster the wind raced around her, sending chills to her bones. After adjusting to the more temperate climate of the Kashyyyk forests, Rey had almost forgotten about Ahch-To’s harsh conditions.

How did Luke live - no, survive - here for so long? she questioned before another more timely thought passed through her mind. How long would it take to convince Kylo to come with her to the Resistance?

In truth, she had barely an idea of what she was going to say, let alone what she would do when she finally saw him in person. Nerves slowly began building in her stomach, but she tried her best to ignore them. Worrying never helped her on Jakku, and it wouldn’t help her now.

By the time she finally reached the entrance to the Jedi temple, Ahch-To’s binary suns were making their way towards the horizon, flooding the craggy island and the ocean below with a warm, golden light.

She stepped through the entry and made her way towards the tiled mosaic, where a faint tickle of water collected in the stone basin below it. Rey moved to gaze at the figure crafted in the basin meant to show the duality of the Force. If only for a few seconds, she was content to soak in the tranquility it seemed to project.

Liquid gold washed over the water’s surface which served to illuminate the figure resting at the bottom of the pool, thanks to a slit in the temple’s side facing the horizon over with Ahch-To’s suns would set. Upon taking a closer look, Rey noticed a dark outline casting a shadow marking the water black.

She glanced up, and her breath hitched upon finding the source of the shadow. It belonged to Kylo Ren.

But he wasn’t facing her. Instead, he was gazing out at the horizon, his cape billowing gracefully around him as the wind from the sea rushed into the temple.

He must have heard her gasp because he whirled around to face her, though he remained silent. Rey could feel his Force signature tense slightly as if he was shaping it around himself to serve as armour.

Both of them remained rooted to the spot in which they stood, neither entirely sure of the other’s intentions. Finally, Rey mustered the nerve to break the tension in the growing chasm of unknowns that lay between them, and made her way to stand at his side. With every step closer, his eyes, now a deep chocolate brown in the golden light, continued to trail her until they were face to face, just a mere foot apart.

Hazel eyes met brown, each filled with more questions than answers, as the two continued to contemplate each other. His eyes quickly darted from hers to the temple’s entrance and back again. The turning emotion behind his eyes created an intensity that would have intimidated anyone else in the galaxy, but not Rey. Despite this man’s meticulous efforts to block people out, she saw pain, worry, anger, distrust, and confusion reflected in them.

Without having to ask, Rey answered the question nested in Kylo’s thoughts. “There’s only me,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze with as much softness as she could give.

A gust of wind blew against them as Kylo silently considered the truth of her words. He seemed to relax just a little before his lips parted slightly, allowing a long, deep breath to fill his lungs.

“We’ll see,” he said, just before Kylo closed his eyes, slowly exhaling. As he did so, Rey felt a wave of energy pulse through the Force, touching everything on the island, searching for life.

Kylo appeared so peaceful and Rey couldn’t help but think of how unconventionally handsome he looked. His dark hair, like his eyes, now shown as deep brown in the sunset. His skin, which was usually so pale, actually looked healthy with a little bit of color. Rey’s heart tightened when she examined his scar - a permanent reminder of their opposition. Then there were those full lips of his. The way they parted ever so slightly as he took a breath. They looked so soft.

Rey felt heat rise in her cheeks at the thought, quickly casting it away as Kylo’s eyes opened ending his search.

Confirming the truth of Rey’s words, he visibly relaxed, letting his shoulders set naturally while releasing a sigh. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Not only that, but his Force signature, which had been so tightly wound eased until it was no more of a hum of energy filling the space around them. If she could feel this, there was no doubt left in her mind about the power that the man before her possessed. But she wasn’t afraid of it.

At that moment, a new question seemed to flash across those chocolate eyes of his. She didn’t know how - the bond maybe - but Rey instinctively knew what he was thinking before he came out and addressed her. “What does this mean? Why are you here?” he said, voice soft and even.

She swallowed, not entirely sure that she had an answer. When she looked down in thought, she was surprised to find that Kylo’s hands were without his gloves, bare to the world. It almost seemed to be an invitation or a reminder of the last time she was on Ahch-To, when they had first realized the extent of their strange bond. Would those same hands be any different now?

Giving in to her curiosity, she slowly reach a quaking hand out to take his and welcomed the unexpected warmth of them. She smiled at the size difference, his being so massive compared to her smaller, slender ones.

Kylo tensed immediately at her actions, clearly not expecting this. A small chuckle escaped her lips at seeing his unease and she turned to watch the binary suns descend towards the ocean’s horizon. Darkness was beginning to overtake the light.

“You’re not alone,” she assured him after several moments of silence, finally answering his questions.

Though he said nothing, Rey knew the importance of those words between them. He gave her hand a small squeeze and took a step closer. Both of them were content enough to linger in this moment, two lonely people sharing in the comfort of each other’s presence with the knowledge that neither faced isolation for the time being. For in this moment, they had the support of one another, where time and the war and their troubles meant nothing and felt galaxies away.

Light and dark remained in silently entwined in one another until the last sliver of gold faded into the black of the night, and the brilliance of a million stars danced above them.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13

[whillsofstars]

Chapter 13

REY------------------------------------------------------

“Rey!” Finn called, dipping his head under the belly of a star fighter, trying his best to get a better view of her as she screwed in the last set of bolts needed to secure the main computer hatch. “Hey, Rey? Can you hear me?”

“Yeah, I can hear you,” she called turning her head away from her work, giving Finn her full attention. “What’s up?”

It had been a long day outfitting the new fighters with tracking devices, cannons, special shields, and there was still plenty more work to get done before nightfall. Rey was hoping Finn’s interruption wouldn’t take long. She wanted to finish early, leaving plenty of time to practice lightsaber stances and techniques after grabbing a quick bite to eat.

She hadn’t practiced her swordsmanship in ages and she was itching to get back at it. Her recovery had taken longer than expected, particularly the recovery from the toxin. It had weakened her quite a bit. Often, she would tire quickly and needed to rest even when performing the most basic repair work. Both Poe and Finn made sure she received the smallest projects until she was ready to handle the longer hours and more strenuous tasks.

So when Finn now slid himself closer to Rey under the y-wing she assumed that he had simply come to check on her again.

She soon learned that this was not the case.

A last minute meeting had been called by General Organa and that it would convene in the next twenty minutes. All leading commanders and a few others, including Rey, were mandated to attend.

Together, they shimmied their way out from under the star fighter and made their way across the bustling landing pad to the makeshift command center.

The room was already buzzing with anticipation before they arrived, everyone trying to see if anyone else knew something they didn’t.

No one had any intel, of course, or if they happened to know, they were waiting for the Leia to share the news instead.

Finn and Rey found Poe across the room and he ushered them over to take a seat next to him. Moments later, Rose walked in and Rey shifted over one seat to let her sit beside Finn, who beamed, clearly grateful for the gesture.

Everyone continued contributing to the chatter until Leia’s commanding presence filled the space. Silence immediately fell upon all those present, both out of respect and curiosity, as they quickly stood to acknowledge her rank.

“At ease,” she said, dismissing the small crowd with a wave of her hand. The look on her face was stone cold, perhaps to hide her true feelings.

“I suppose you’re all wondering why I’ve called you here so suddenly and without an explanation,” she said, surveying each face in the crowd. She paused momentarily on Rey before continuing.

“I’ll make this brief and get right to it,” Leia stated matter-of-factly. “We received news this morning that the First Order has issued a warrant and bounty on Kylo Ren.” Officer Connix flicked a switch and brought up a projection of Kylo Ren’s - Ben Solo’s - unmasked face along with the terms for reward should anyone bring him in. “It seems as though the First Order has denounced him as their Supreme Leader and he is currently on the run with no leads to his whereabouts.”

“Maybe the First Order got tired of fixing all the damage he does to their own ships. That one’s got a temper on him,” Finn quipped causing the room to break into quiet snickers, all except Leia and Rey. Kylo Ren’s rage was known across the galaxy, but the other side of him was missed entirely.

Leia continued to stand in silence until those present took notice and quiet returned once more.

“Funny Finn, but not exactly,” she said stiffly.

Finn shifted uncomfortably in his seat while Leia continued on. “It appears as though Kylo Ren has been charged with treason to the First Order, the crime being the murder of the late Supreme Leader Snoke.”

“I thought Jedi Rey bested old Snoke. What’s this about Kylo Ren taking him out?” said the officer who oversaw the Resistance communications technology.

Uh-oh. Now it was Rey’s turn to speak. Throughout the Resistance, everyone believed that it was she who killed him. That is, everyone but Leia and Finn believed that she has been the one to finish the job. Rey wanted her closest confidants to know the truth, but they insisted that she keep the details of what really occurred quiet. For starters, it gave her credibility with the small remnants of Resistance personnel. They all believed her to be more skilled than what she really was. It also helped that no one ever asked her to retell the story. Since she escaped the Supremacy and it was Kylo Ren who led the attack at Crait, everyone assumed Ren was out for blood following the demise of their leader’s death. In reality, Kylo had just been angry that she refused his offer.

So now, it seemed, that the time has come to set the record straight. She drew a deep breath and tried to summon what confidence she had. Rey knew the truth needed to come out, but she hoped that there would have been a chance to prove herself first.

Here goes nothing, she thought as she moved to standing to face the officer.

“I’m aware that some of you believe that Snoke died at my own hand, but I’m afraid that it is untrue,” she said as hushed murmurs began filling the silence. “Before I joined the Resistance at Crait,” she continued, “I had gone to the Supremacy trying to convince Kylo Ren to join our side - a move that would have turned the tide in this war.”

More whispers echoed throughout the room.

“But it didn’t go as planned. I was taken before Snoke and tortured. Snoke tried to get into my mind. He wanted to know where Master Skywalker was hiding.” A shiver ran down her spine at the memory of how intrusive it was to have Snoke penetrate her mind.

“When Snoke was finished, he urged Kylo Ren to kill me - to complete his training. But he didn’t. I thought he would, but he didn’t. Instead, he used a trick and put an end to Snoke instead. After that, the Raddus sped into the Supremacy, and that’s when I took my opportunity to leave.”

Now people were talking louder and more openly amongst one another. Rey could only guess what this news would mean to the people in this room. One thing was certain though: it seemed her news insighted far more questions.

Another officer, one Rey hadn’t personally met before, but had recognized as one of Leia’s top ranking officers, stood up to face Rey, “So it was just another one of those ancient ways - of the Sith, that is - where the apprentice surpasses the master to gain power?”

Being unfamiliar with Jedi tradition, let alone those of the Sith, Rey had no idea. Her lack of knowledge in this area only served to remind Rey of her shortcomings as a Jedi. “I don’t know ma’am,” she responded quietly, shifting in her stance. “I’m not familiar with the practices of the Sith. Or the Jedi.”

More murmurs. Rey wondered what they must think of her own admission of how she was not the Jedi they believed her to be. But despite how terrified she felt admitting her own shortcomings, all that mattered to Rey in this moment was the fact that Kylo was finally out of the First Order. Could this be the moment she was waiting for? Could she finally convince him to join the Resistance? She hoped so because she had an idea.

“General Organa?” she asked over the now buzzing room. When Leia nodded, granting her permission to continue, the room quieted down once more. “I think we should find him. With your permission, I would like to go to Kylo Ren and convince him to join us.”

For a long while, her proposal was met with dead silence. Silence that somehow felt so loud, that it made her chest tighten with anxiety. It didn’t help that Finn’s mouth fell agape in shock of what Rey suggested. Leia’s eyebrows shot straight up in surprise. Poe looked disgusted. She couldn’t blame him though. Poe had recounted, in detail, what it felt like to be interrogated by Kylo Ren. It was not an experience he was likely to forget or quick to forgive. Many of the others in attendance either mirrored Finn’s expression or just looked confused.

To further her point, Rey continued, “Look, I still think there is a chance that he could turn. He just got kicked out of the First Order. There’s nowhere for him to go and I’m sure he has a few scores to settle. But I know there’s still conflict in him. This could be our chance.”

As Leia gave Rey a questioning look, she was reminded that Leia never knew about the bond, and quite honestly, Rey didn’t want to share that with anyone, let alone Leia. She’d likely be seen as a liability that could compromise the Resistance’s position.

“At least he was when I went to him on the Supremacy,” she added quickly, hoping this small backtracking wouldn’t incite further questions.

Leia didn’t follow up, but it didn’t seem like she was entirely convinced either. Rey prayed that she wouldn’t pry later. After a few moments, Leia released a heavy sigh, “Your request is denied.”

While it wasn’t said, Rey had a hunch that Leia was still grieving over the loss of Han and bitter that her own son was the one to take his life. She could empathize with Leia if she wasn’t ready to face her son, but Rey also had deeper insights into Kylo’s thoughts. Killing his father hadn’t given him the power that he desired and, instead only deepened the cavern inside his soul between what he thought he desired and who he was. Who Ben Solo is.

Rey wasn’t ready to back down.

“But General, he could have inside information on the First Order that we could use. Not to mention his Force abilities,” she pressed.

She took a second to glance around the room hoping to see at least a few people who supported her, but instead every single face still wore an expression between shock and confusion.

Leia gave Rey a hard look, mirroring that of a parent too tired to continue arguing with their child. A moment later, Leia spoke, her voice adopting the tone of a true commander, and it expressed the finality of her decision. “My answer is still ‘no.’ Now is that understood, Jedi Rey?” It wasn’t a question so much as a command.

She cast her eyes down acknowledging her defeat. “Yes, General,” she muttered begrudgingly. How could Leia just leave him - her son - alone in the galaxy? Why didn’t anyone support her request?

“Good.” It was the last word Leia gave before moving their meeting ahead to other matters of importance, like the training program of new recruits.

When they were finally dismissed, Rey dashed out the door without so much as a goodbye to Poe, Finn, and Rose. She didn’t have anything to say and she just wanted to be left alone with her thoughts. She couldn’t just ignore the fact that Kylo Ren had left the First Order. He was truly alone now. This could be her best chance to find the man Ben Solo...or at least try. There was still light in him. She could sense it when they stood together in Snoke’s throne room, and she could sense it still.

It didn’t take long before her mind was made up. If she were honest with herself, it was decided the minute the news of Kylo Ren’s treason reached her ears. She knew what she had to do.

She picked up her pace until she reached her quarters. Once inside, Rey proceeded to fill her satchel with various necessities among a few more important items, being sure to take the Jedi texts, a few tools, and her lightsaber. It was likely that she wouldn’t be returning for a while, and she wanted these few items kept close. They were all she had of her time with Luke.

Before leaving, she paused and took one final scan of her space, ensuring that she hadn’t forgotten anything important. Having her concerns lifted, she made her way outside and proceeded down the corridor to where the Millennium Falcon lay waiting.

She was careful not to let anyone see her on the way to the Falcon. With a packed bag slung across her shoulder, it would raise anyone’s suspicions as to what she was up to: desertion being one of them, but more importantly, ignoring strict orders from leadership. If she could just get to The Falcon and silently make all the preparations necessary for the trip, it’s likely people would only realize what was happening when the engines kicked in for take off.

Checking the time, it appeared as though luck was on her side. Currently, the last meal of the day was being served in the mess hall, which meant the landing pad was quite vacant and that allowed Rey to reach The Falcon without any delay.

She immediately got to work once she reached the entrance ramp and deposited her small collection of belongings safely into the co-pilot’s chair.

After doing a few routine checks to the Falcon’s power converter and cooling system, Rey decided to look over the hyperdrive, remembering that it had likely not had a thorough examination in years. Everything seemed to be in working order, or at least usable order. Rey deemed the ship ready for takeoff.

She made her way through the small corridor that lead to the ship’s cockpit trying to shake the feeling that she had forgotten something when suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her breath caught momentarily in her throat and words escaped her as she locked eyes with the man before her.

There, filling the space in the captain’s chair, waited Finn. On his face was an expression of disappointment, concern, and confusion. Of the three, disappointment was the most prominent. After her ill-received proposal this morning, Rey was certain that he knew where she was headed.

They took each other in for a few moments, the gravity of the situation settling in before Finn broke their silence. “Rey, don’t do this,” he pleaded, his deep voice even.

Kriff. She didn’t want to have this conversation with him. Not with one of the very few people she could trust. It was clear that Finn held no faith in Kylo Ren joining their forces - she’s sure no one did. But she couldn’t give up on the idea. Not yet.

“Finn, I know what you’re thinking, but I have to-”

“You don’t have to do anything,” he said cutting her off. “Rey, he’s had several chances to do the right thing and every time he still chose the First Order. The darkside. His chances have run out.”

Growing more and more frustrated with each passing second, Rey rebutted, “You don’t know that. I saw-”

“I saw first hand what he’s capable of and what kind of person he is. I was in the First Order with him longer than you have known him. Kylo Ren is vicious and will not hesitate to remove anything or anyone that stands in his way. Some people cannot be changed, Rey, no matter how badly you want them to.”

Rey could hear the pain in his voice. She knew Finn spoke from experience. She know that he was only looking out for her. She could feel his concern, his plea. She could feel the pain of his experiences, experiences he had chosen to shield from the rest of the world. She wished that he had not come. Disappointing Finn was the last thing she wanted to do. Still, she needed to go. She needed to try for herself so that her conscious would be settled.

She had to level with him. “That may be true, but I need to try Finn.”

“Rey, what is this about?” he questioned, still in disbelief that she was actually considering finding Kylo Ren. “Why do you want to find him so badly? Nothing good can come of this.”

“It might,” she said stiffly.

“Rey, what’s this about? I noticed you took the Jedi texts,” he said motioning to the satchel filling the co-pilot’s seat. “What is it you’re not telling me?”

Rey didn’t say anything. She didn’t exactly want to tell Finn of the bond she and Kylo shared. She feared he wouldn’t understand.

Finn stood up and approached her. “Rey. You’re my best friend,” he coaxed. “We’ve seen each other through so much since you hit me over the head with your staff on Jakku.”

Rey couldn’t help by chuckle at the memory. Finn always had a knack for lightening the mood.

“Whatever it is you’re going through, you can tell me,” he insisted.

She shifted her gaze outside as she considered his words. More and more, the base was coming back to life, which meant that the evening meal was wrapping up and she was running out of time.

Maybe it was the sincerity in his voice or the reminder of what they’ve been through, but she sensed that Finn would keep her secrets. Well, here goes nothing, she thought.

“Fine,” she said, caving in, “but I’m going to make this quick. I don’t have much time.”

“Fine,” he said echoing her response. ” What’s going on?”

“I had a vision that he would turn. That he would stand with us when the time came,” she confessed as the words began to spill out of her. “It was as solid and clear as you and I talking now. I believed he would turn when I went to him on the Supremacy.” She paused to study the bewildered expression on his face. His mouth was full lips were slightly agape and his eyes only saw Rey. Truly, he was hanging on every word she spoke. “But I know now that it was too soon so I waited. Why else would I have this vision if it wouldn’t come true?” It was more a question for herself than it was for Finn. Rey was still, in part, trying to determine if visions were absolutes or if they could be changed.

Finn shifted his stance and pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a moment to compose himself. Rey could sense that he was trying to choose his words carefully. “And you believe that the time is now?”

“Yes,” she said hesitantly, though once the word had escaped her lips, the confidence of her decision solidified.

Now it was Finn’s turn to sigh. He turned to stare at the landing platform, putting a hand over his mouth as he processed what she had just revealed. With a final heave of his shoulders, he turned back to face her. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.” And she was.

He nodded his head accepting her affirmation.

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“No! Finn, this is something I have to do on my own,” she said, surprised at his offer.

“I’m not letting you go near that monster alone,” he countered. “Ren is too dangerous.”

“Finn, I’ll be fine,” she encouraged. “Besides, I’m a Jedi after all.” Her words felt like a lie.

Finn wasn’t entirely convinced either. “You’re still in training, Rey,” he said pointedly.

Ouch. That hurt, but he wasn’t wrong.

“Finn, you can’t come with me. This is something I have to do on my own.”

He seemed to take the hint. With one final look outside to the platform, he shook his head and threw up his hands in defeat. “Okay, fine,” he said. “But I’m giving you five days to get back here before we come looking for you, and before you object,” he said hurriedly seeing Rey beginning to refuse his terms, “it’s to make sure you do come back. I’m not going to lose you.”

“Fine.” Rey could agree with that. How could she argue with her friend who really was concerned for her safety? Noticing even more people filtering onto the platform, she knew her opportunity was nearly gone. “I have to get going.”

Finn looked back over his shoulder and nodded in agreement. “I know,” he said softly, taking a few steps forward while reaching into his coat pocket. Then, he reached for her hand and gently placed a small device into her palm. It was the same tracker Rey was given when she went to train with Luke.

“Just take this with you,” he said as his large hands encouraged her fingers to fold over the device.

“Thank you, Finn.”

“Just come back to us,” he said pulling her into one of his great hugs. She couldn’t help but smile. Finn was a good man and an even better friend.

“I will,” she promised, and she meant it.

He gave one final squeeze for good measure before letting go and slowly made his way out of the Falcon. Before he left for good, he turned around and gave Rey a hard look, “Rey, be careful. Watch yourself.”

“I will.”

He nodded, and without a word he left.

As soon as Finn moved a safe distance away, Rey began charging the engines. They roared to life as if begging to make the jump to lightspeed. When they were finally ready, she left Kashyyyk, taking off as fast as she could until finally reaching the black, vastness of space.

Now the hard part came. She didn’t know the first place to look for Kylo. No information of his whereabouts was shared in their meeting early today. She had nothing to go on.

She pulled up the holopad and scrolled the newscasts praying that at least one person had spotted him. Nothing.

Well, this is off to a great start, she thought, becoming more discouraged with each passing minute.

Okay, if I were Kylo Ren, where would I go? She knew that she was grasping at thin air. Rey really had no idea and the minutes continued to tick by with every quess she tried to make.

She was wasting valuable time.

“Your presence in the Force is strong. Others like us could find you given enough time to meditate,” a distant memory echoed.

“The Force!” Rey said out loud. That’s right! If Kylo could find her through the Force, like he did on Kashyyyk, maybe she could do the same. Why didn’t she think of this sooner?

She immediately shut her eyes and exhaled the air from her lungs, making sure the inhale was slower like Luke had instructed. She let go of any thoughts swirling in her mind, letting her mind go blank.

While it took some time (it was more difficult without the plant life on Ahch-To), she eventually found a connection to the Force. Letting it flow through her, she enjoyed the oddly familiar sensation it brought, until she was finally ready to begin looking for his presence.

If what Kylo had said about her Force signature appearing as a bright light was true, maybe his was also. After all, Kylo Ren was the only strong Force-user in the galaxy that she knew of. Concentrating as hard as she could, Rey projected her conscience out and began looking for his light.

“Please let me see him,” she whispered almost inaudibly, like a prayer leaving her lips. “Let me find him.”

She waited a few moments hoping something would happen. Then, slowly, a light started to grow. She began to focus all of her mental energy on that one small speck of light and within a few moments, her mind’s eye was filled with light before a flash of a craggy island surrounded by a restless sea flooded her vision. She could feel the wind rip across her face and the smell of the salt in the waves. And just as quickly as it had come, the island vanished.

“Ahch-to,” she breathed opening her eyes, once again, to meet the dark expanse of space. “He’s on Ahch-to!”

It worked! She chuckled to herself in disbelief. She found him. She had called upon the Force and she found him. Maybe she could do this. Maybe she was cut out to be a Jedi after all.

Pushing all thoughts aside, Rey wasted no time and punched in the coordinates. the Falcon responded immediately and with another flash of light, Rey made the jump to lightspeed.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 14

[whillsofstars]

I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING. I know it’s been a year since TLJ, but hear me out. When Rey asked the cave mirror ™ to show her parents, it showed two people (which symbolizes her parents) combining into a figure, that is similar to Ben Solo’s. THEN later on in the movie, in the elevator scene ™, he claims that he has seen her parents because of the hand touch ™. This literally means that Ben Solo IS HER ANSWER. He is the cold, dark truth that Rey needs to be able to move on. He was given the answer to the question that Rey was asking herself for her whole life, which is who her parents were. Rey needed someone to tell her that her parents are gone. Someone needed to tell her the truth, and that someone was Ben. THE FORCE LITERALLY GAVE HIM THE CHEAT SHEET TO REY’S QUESTION. The force wanted Ben to be the one to tell her to look forward, and not at her past. This means Ben Solo is her answer.

He is her answer to her question, and her loneliness.

Rey on the other hand believed Ben would turn easily. (Which was obvious that he wasn’t going to cause there’s another movie after this). In TFA Ben clearly said that he was going to finish what Vader started. You see, it might have been interpreted in a dark “kill all jedis” way. But it’s not like that at all. He’s going to finish everything. This whole trilogy is about KILLING THE PAST. As the new Supreme Leader he’s going to end the resistance, the first order, and build a new order. He’s going to create a balance that will unite the galaxy once and for all. No dark side, no resistance, just peace. And hopefully we see his mindset change like this within the next movie, because there’s still light in him. Rey saying that he was going to turn gave him an idea of how he’s going to turn.

Rey is the light that guides Ben Solo, and Ben Solo is the cold, dark truth that guides Rey. They complete each other.

This all concludes to him asking her to join him. He wants to kill the past and start something new. But he believes that he can’t do it without her. Rey, speechless, didn’t say yes or no to his question. But rather walked around it. She believed that he’s still going for the power, but he isn’t. This is the point where Ben has to go on his own to feed the spark that Rey gave him. Rey was sent to help him and guide him until he can do things on his own. Well now he can do things on his own. Snoke is dead, he’s in power, now it’s his choice whether he’s really going to do anything or not. It’s his choice to end not only his suffering, but the whole galaxy.

I’m sorry if this was long but I rewatched TLJ on Netflix like 50 times to understand all the symbolism here, and I wanted to share it with you guys. I’m not sure if this is how the next movie is going to go, but we’ll figure it out when the day comes. Anyways, may the force be with you all :)

[whillsofstars]

Chapter 12

Hi tumblr friends! I am so sorry it’s been a while since my last chapter update, but I so appreciate those of you who have hung in there for me. Work has been crazy busy and I haven’t had much time to write. Luckily for you though, I’ve been saving a few chapters that I plan on sharing over the next few days. Also, I’m so thrilled to announce that I’ve finished the first third of this FanFic, which will conclude at Chapter 14. (yay!) I cannot wait to start writing the next third. 

Enjoy!

KYLO REN-----------------------------------------------

Kylo couldn’t breathe.

Try as hard as he might, his lungs refused to accept the precious, life-giving oxygen they so desperately needed. The pain sent tears to his eyes, but still no breath would come.

It wasn’t until he heard a swoosh as the door to Hux’s chamber opened that he was able to break free of the terror that clutched him and take a quick, desperate gulp of air.

His head snapped to see who had just joined him, and was flustered to find that it was Armitage himself stepping over the threshold.

“Ren!” he snapped. “What in the blazes are you doing in my private chambers,” he hissed, his voice filled with venom.

Hux stopped halfway between the opening and where Kylo sat at his desk. The emotions coming off Hux were like a punch to the face: fury, disdain, hatred. But another emotion lingered there too. It appeared as though Hux was genuinely fine with Kylo’s intrusion. Kylo wondered why.

Regaining his composure, Kylo moved to stand. He would not let Hux believe that he could be intimidated.

“Where is Kasari Ren?” Kylo questioned low and threatening. He was actually quite interested in Hux’s answer. She was supposed to contact him on their comlink should anyone approach. Come to think of it, why hadn’t Jaster Ren said anything? Hux was scheduled to be in his meeting for another hour.

Hux gave a small prideful chuckle at Kylo’s question, “You’ll soon find out, I assume - but not yet.”

What the kriff is that supposed to mean? Fine, Kylo thought, if Hux is going to play games, I can go along with it.

Moving off the subject, Kylo held the Sith text out before him. “Interested in learning about the Force General?” he said tauntingly. “Honestly, if I were you, I would put your time into studies more useful to someone lacking in these particular talents.”

Anger briefly flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with contempt.

“Ah, that,” Hux said evenly in his snobbish Core World accent. “Now that does have a great deal of value to me...,” he said pausing as wicked smirk began to settling across his lips, “...and to you, Ren.”

To me, huh?, Kylo thought.

“What is it you’re up to Hux?” he demanded threateningly, though Kylo had a dreadful feeling that he already knew. When Hux continued to say nothing, being content chuckling to himself, Kylo lost his patience. “Out with it Hux!” he roared.

“Save your wrath for someone else Ren. You do not scare me - not anymore,” he added.

Kylo called upon the Force and threw Hux into the nearest wall, knocking the wind from his lungs. A second later, Kylo was on Hux, his left hand firmly encased around Hux’s throat.

“What are you doing with the Sith text, Hux?” he growled through gritted teeth. “Answer me!”

Before Hux could respond, the unmistakable hiss of a lightsaber igniting filled the room.

“Let him go, Master.”

Kylo snapped his head to where the voice originated and was taken aback to find Jaster Ren occupying the space by the doorway. The light from his saber cast a soft crimson glow to Hux’s quarters.

Rage flooded through Kylo as understanding began sinking in: Jaster had betrayed him. His knight, a Knight of Ren, had aligned himself with his foe. This was intolerable. How dare a knight turn on his master.

Kylo kept his hand firmly drawn over Hux’s throat, daring Jaster Ren to do anything about it. “How long have you been serving Hux, Jaster?” he said, eyes like daggers.

Jaster cocked his helmet-enclosed head to the side, his lightsaber still lit and casually held ready to attack. “Perhaps the better question is how could you betray our Supreme Leader Snoke?”

Kylo froze, his hand letting up on Hux’s throat ever so slightly. What did he just say?

Seeing Kylo’s surprise, it was Hux who was next to speak.

“Oh please, Ren,” he said mockingly, though the sound come from his lips was strained. “How simple are you?” He reached to move Kylo’s grip on his throat. Sensing the dangerous predicament in which he now found himself, Kylo compiled and relinquished his hold over Hux.

Hux took a step back and took in greedy gulps of air while gingerly massaging his neck, small bruises already starting to form, before continuing, “In your treacherous moment alongside that scavenger bitch, did you forget about our security cameras? Perhaps you thought they were destroyed after the Supremacy was attacked by the Resistance Star Cruiser.”

While Kylo’s body remained perfectly still, his mind was racing almost as fast as light speed. They had known this whole time. He had been played and he was now caught in their trap.

Kriff. This was worse than waking up to find his uncle ready to murder him.

Adrenaline was coursing through him and Kylo knew of only one way out of this: if he managed to kill both Hux and Jaster, he could probably resume his role as Supreme Leader.

But how many more know about this? A voice whispered in his thoughts.

“Ren,” Hux spat, pulling Kylo out of his thoughts. “Your reign ends now. You will be taken under arrest and tried as a traitor to the First Order for conspiring with the Resistance, and will be held responsible for the murder of our beloved Supreme Leader Snoke.”

To hell they would arrest me, he thought.

Kylo made a slight motion towards the door when Jaster positioned himself directly in his path. “I don’t think so Kylo,” he said with the clear indication of a threat. Jaster lifted his free hand containing a comlink. “Send them in,” he commanded and within seconds, Hux’s relatively small quarters filled with three praetorian guards.

What was he going to do? He was trapped.

As he sized up his opponents, he became less sure of his chances of getting away unscathed. Should he give up and admit defeat? Not yet.

He had questions that needed answering before that happened.

He turned once again to face Hux, giving him a hard stare into his steely eyes. He hated how smug Hux looked. One day if he ever got the chance, he would make him pay. For Rey, for this, for making his life difficult from the moment he First Order. He would pay.

Feigning defeat, Kylo let out a deep breath and addressed Hux, “Before you take me, will you at least tell me what you’re doing with that Sith text?”

A wicked grin overtook his features as he took a step forward closer to Kylo, “I suppose there’s no point in secrecy any longer is there, Jaster?”

Jaster kept his defensive stance, continuing to halt any attempt Kylo made to leave.

“I’m actually quite surprised that you hadn’t wondered about it sooner. You see,” he said pensively, “you weren’t the only one Snoke spoke to about the Force and its secrets.” He took another step closer. “As it turns out, Darth Plagueis wasn’t the only one who could cheat death, and that text offers some very fascinating revelations.”

Now Hux was within mere feet from where Kylo stood, surrounded by praetorians ready to attack.

Hux brought himself closer still and lowered his voice so it was only Kylo who could hear his words. “And now, I’ll share my secret,” he paused before continuing, “Supreme Leader Snoke lives on. You failed, Ren. And now you will lose everything.”

Hux stepped back and addressed the praetorians. “Seize him. Dead or alive, it doesn’t matter.”

At once the whole room sprang into action.

Kylo called upon the Force and sent the praetorians and Hux flying across the room, smashing them into the wall hard enough to dent their armor. But this was only a small victory that wasn’t meant to last. Jaster Ren was on him almost immediately, lightsaber ignited and ready to kill. His attacks were precise and deadly.

Kylo called upon his own saber unleashing the fiery, crackling blade with a hiss just in time to counter Jaster, locking their blades overhead.

He took advantage of their proximity and dealt a hard kick to Jaster’s unprotected abdomen. He heard the unsettling crack of bones shattering. With Jaster lying on the ground heaving in pain, Kylo took off out of Hux’s quarters. He had to hurry though. Jaster was a Knight of Ren and it wouldn’t take more than a few moments before Jaster collected himself and moved to pursue him.

He dashed out the door into the corridor hoping to find little opposition, but things would not be so easy.

Two more praetorians waited at the ready, blocking either side of the hall. The one at his right side stood at attention, but it was the one on his left that caught his breath. This praetorian was much larger than his counterpart, with broader shoulders and a muscular build. But outside of his bulking frame, Kylo was fixed upon the blade he held tightly in one hand, and how close it was resting beside Kasari’s neck, who was restrained by the guard’s remaining arm.

Relief coursed through Kylo with the realization that Kasari hadn’t betrayed him, but fear was present too. He wasn’t about to lose one of his Knights, and if he was going to free her, Kylo had to think fast because the praetorian behind him made his advance.

Kylo dodged his thrust, but just barely. The effort it took threw him off balance, and the praetorian dealt a blow to his side, sending him smashing into the wall.

Despite the pain spreading from his back, Kylo was able to focus his strength and use the wall as leverage to land a strong front kick square into the praetorian’s chest sending him backwards into the opposite wall. Before he could recover, Kylo used the Force to hold him back as he reached for the lightsaber at his hip. The praetorian didn’t stand a chance, and after one swing fell to the glassy black floors motionless.

Kylo’s eyes darted to the larger praetorian holding Kasari. He needed her. He needed an ally that could help him escape the Finalizer. She was a good fighter and, from the looks of it, still loyal to him, unless no one told her that he killed Snoke. Would she continue to serve him if she knew the truth?

He didn’t have the time to find out, for Jaster Ren and the other praetorians made their way into the corridor. Any hope that Kylo had about freeing Kasari faded. He could take on a few praetorians at once, but three of them plus a knight of Ren made things all the more difficult. He stole one final glance at Kasari and the thought of what he was about to do pained him.

Kylo took off down the corridor leaving Kasari, Jaster, and the praetorians in his wake.

The Finalizer now buzzed with activity, as the alert of his treason was made public over the intercom. More than once, Kylo needed to take on a squad of Stormtroopers who happened to be patrolling in the hallway as he ran by. He couldn’t take any chances and risk them alerting the rest of the ship of his location, so he froze them where they stood before coldly slaughtering each and every one without a single afterthought.

After a series of twists and turns and a few elevator rides, he reached the hangar bay, which to his relief was uncharacteristically vacant of troopers and other crew members. Clearly they decided to go searching for him in the inner maze of the star destroyer.

After sucking in a few deep breaths of precious oxygen, chest heaving, sweat dotting his brow, Kylo drew upon every last ounce of energy he possessed and bolted towards his TIE Silencer, located at the far side of the platform with the personal ships of other officers.

As he crossed the middle of the hangar, a red bolt zoomed passed his ear. His position had been compromised, and now he was under heavy fire.

In any other instance, Kylo would have halted their fire in place, freezing each bolt with the Force. But he was exhausted, and there were far too many bolts. The effort needed to stop every single one may risk his life, so he continued to run, relying on his heightened senses to dodge blast after blast.

He almost made it to his ship unscathed when one of the trooper’s blasters struck true and hit him smack dab in the middle of his right shoulder blade.

Pain, violent and hot, spread through his shoulder and down his arm. He could barely hold onto his saber. Trying to cope, Kylo’s breathing quickened and became heavy as blood began trickling from the wound. Still, he pushed on. He was too close to give in now.

When he finally reached the TIE Silencer, he hopped into the sleek, utilitarian cockpit and flipped every switch needed for takeoff. Being the Supreme Leader, he didn’t need clearance to leave, nor was his ship required to be locked when docked. The second his ship was ready, Kylo hit the acceleration and sped full speed out of the hangar bay into the dark expanse of space.

He made it, and as he pushed his ship to its limits, he was now reminded that he needed to find a place to hide. But where could he go where the First Order wouldn’t be able to find him?

After a moment of contemplation, he settled on one very lonely planet. It was off the grid from anyone within the First Order. Plus, this planet had something he had been meaning to follow up on.

After he hastily patched his wound, he punched in the coordinates and made the jump to lightspeed, flying as fast as his ship could take him. To what lay waiting at the first Jedi temple.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 13

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As always, please let me know what you think! I love feedback and story ideas because it helps my writing and makes the story that much stronger. Thank you!

[whillsofstars]

Is it too cliché to have Ren bridal-style kissing Rey under the galaxies and stars? I had so much fun playing around with this little experiment. Couldn’t help myself  Do not Repost Facebook || Instagram || Etsy || Society6

[whillsofstars]

Chapter 11

KYLO REN------------------------------------

Kylo Ren’s uncharacteristically good mood persisted over the next couple weeks, which only made everyone who came in contact with him uncomfortable. No one quite knew how to respond to his more relaxed, uplifted attitude. It was well-known within the First Order that Kylo Ren was as serious as they come, with a raging temper to match when provoked. He was not a man to be trifled with, but even more so, he was not a man known for being happy. Ever.

Sometimes he was met with suspicion, especially when it came to General Hux. Being the type of man who ascended to his coveted position through less than favorable methods, Armitage assumed there were secret operations that he wasn’t privy to, and that made him nervous. While it was not as Hux feared, Kylo couldn’t help exploiting his suspicions for the time being. Armitage shared more detailed information in his reports than he had previously, clearly trying to demonstrate everything he has accomplished on behalf of the First Order. The additional insight was particularly helpful as it gave away more details about Hux’s comings and goings which, in turn, Kylo passed along to his knights while they continued to monitor him.

Secretly, the only two people in the galaxy who knew the source of his new attitude were himself and Rey.

While he had waited with Rey as she recovered from the attack by the bounty hunters, Kylo had witnessed something that truly moved him at his core. While caught between an open Force bond and an interruption from that Resistance scum, Rey had done more for Kylo’s ego in a brief second than anyone had in years. When she withdrew her hand from the golden boy of the Resistance, Dameron knew it for what it was - rejection. Little did he know that resting in Rey’s other hand was Kylo’s, one that she had intentionally reached for and encouraged to stay. She had chosen him. Once again, like she had when she arrived on the Supremacy, Rey had chosen him and that meant more to Kylo than he cared to admit. Throughout his life, no one had shown as much support as Rey had in those two moments. Yes, Snoke had been supportive of him, encouraging his studies of the Darkside, but there was always a hidden agenda. With Rey, there were no strings attached.

Despite Snoke connecting them through the Force, the bond had remained open. It was the Force at work. Kylo knew it. The Force wants balance restored to the galaxy. Maybe, just maybe, he was moving one step closer to accomplishing it. Rey’s request for him to stay by her side fueled his belief that she would join him. Could it be that the vision he saw when they touched hands would come to pass? Kylo certainly hoped so.

She was his equal in the Force, her light being the perfect counterbalance to his darkness. If she would allow it, Kylo would still jump at the opportunity to provide her with proper training in the Force. He would show her all the power that the Darkside could offer and while he didn’t agree with the strict and stunted dogma of the Jedi teachings, there was still plenty to gain from their practice. Kylo would take the best teachings from both the Jedi and the Sith to begin a new era of Force users. Some students would foster more light than darkness or vice versa, and that would be okay. Never again would a Force-user be trained to shun part of who they were.

The thought of this new order and the potential for future Force-sensitives only propelled his unusually good mood leading him to think more about Rey. He wondered what she would think of his plan to balance the galaxy. Would she like it? Would she want to be a part of it?

Truth be told, he had no idea.

During the brief moments when their bond had opened, neither of them would discuss their personal aspirations, choosing instead to stick with safer conversation topics. After what happened almost a year ago, it was clear that neither of them was as trusting of one another as they once were. That same trust would take time to build. Kylo hoped that it would happen sooner rather than later, which brought his thought back to the task at hand: forcing their bond to open at will.

Kylo had been meditating on the Force in his quarters while using Vader’s mask as an aid to channel his power. He always found that it was easier to concentrate in the presence of his grandfather’s mask, as if Anakin Skywalker himself was guiding him.

Sometimes he would plea to his grandfather’s spirit to show him the ways of the Force, and today was no different. Kylo had been attempting to open the bond for a little over an hour, only to hit an impenetrable wall every time he found Rey’s presence in the Force. Her signature shown in the Force with an intensity that rivaled the brightest star in the galaxy. Time and time again, when he felt just a little closer to opening the bond, his concentration would crumble, the effort often drawing his strength away.

But despite his failed attempts, he kept trying. Since it reopened, he could feel it getting stronger and stronger every time they were connected. They could now see each other's surroundings, a feat they were unable to do previously. It also seemed as though their emotions could bleed through the bond at unexpected times. He will never forget the fear that pierced his heart when she called his name across the stars moments before she was captured.

It was these revelations that kept him going, that persuaded him to keep trying.

Once again, he focused on his breathing. The feeling of life-giving oxygen passing in and out of his lungs felt like a life-line that helped center his thoughts. If there was anything the Jedi got right, it was their insistence that proper breathing techniques enhanced the meditating experience.

When he finally felt as though his mind had been cleared and tranquility hung around him, he opened himself up to the living Force, pleading with it to show him the key to opening the bond he shared with Rey.

Breathe in and out, he thought exhaling slowly.

Slowly, the darkness that surrounded him began to reveal a faint glow, and from what his heightened senses told him, it was light years away.

When he was sure this was what he was looking for, Kylo refocused his efforts so that all of his thoughts were directed at this small glowing presence in the Force, encouraging it to blossom. Warmth spread through his body, beginning at the crown of his head and moving down to his toes. The feeling reminded him of the warm summers he spent by the lakes on Chandrila - welcoming and at the same time thrilling.

Soon enough, what was once a faint glow in the darkness was now a light that shown with the intensity of the Chandrila sun. The fervor of it all made his skin crawl with excitement. It made him feel alive.

“Rey,” he breathed. The light she carried within her was so strong. She was the galaxy’s counter to the darkness he possessed.

After pausing a few moments to admire the strength of her Force signature, he went right to work summoning his energy, and began slowly pressing it against hers.

“Open,” he said in an almost inaudible whisper.

Upon his command, he sensed that the walls which separated them began to dissolve, but like the intensity of the light, they too were also strong. All of Kylo’s efforts were aimed at one thing and one thing only, slowly chipping away at the Force’s barrier. But just as soon as he began the task at hand, his exhaustion overtook his concentration and he awoke to find himself sitting before his grandfather’s mask, cold and alone once more.

He let out a growl of frustration. He had been so close this time. He could feel it.

Unable to control his emotions, he reached for the nearest object he could find - his data pad -  and hurled into the wall, showering the room with glass and metal pieces. He stood there savagely drawing in one ragged breath after another as the blood in his veins continued to boil.

Why can’t I get it to open?, he thought. I am the most powerful Darkside user in the entire galaxy, the scion to the mighty Skywalker line, trained in both the light and the dark.

Just as he reached for another object, an unexpected knock came from the door to his chambers.

In his rage, he had almost forgotten that he summoned his knights to report on Hux’s comings and goings.

Kriff, he thought.

He collected himself for a brief moment before permitting his knights to enter his personal chambers. He did not want them to witness his weakness. A man who cannot control his emotions is not fit to lead the First Order. If they saw him in a state of weakness, surely his knights too would doubt his ability to command the Knights of Ren.

With a wave of his hand, Kylo used the Force to slide the door open. “You may enter,” he said, trying his best to keep his voice level.

Jaster and Kasari Ren stepped over the threshold, the lightsabers at their hips clinking against their armour. They proceeded until they were within a few paces from where Kylo stood. Both of them slowly dropped to their knees and bowed their heads in a display of respect for the Master of the Knights of Ren.

Kylo had been itching to hear this week’s report from his knights. Ever since he ordered Jaster and Kasari to shadow Hux, their findings had been less than he had hoped. From what they could tell, Hux maintained a normal schedule, free from unusual diversions. If it did change, it was for a trivial endeavor, such as a follow-up meeting with an officer or a casual trip to fill an extra cup of caf while he worked. Unfortunately, what happened behind the closed doors of his private chambers still remained a mystery, but it’s not as though he spent much time there according to his knights.

Let’s hope there’s something new this week.

“Reports?” he asked, although admittingly, it came off as more of a command than a request. And did it sound a little harsh? It must have as both knights hesitated for the briefest of moments before Kasari broke the silence.

“Master, I beg your apologies, but there is nothing new to add to my report this week. In the shifts that I had followed the general, nothing seemed amiss. He comes and goes at the same time, following his schedule to a tee,” she said, her voice muffled by her mask. Continuing to clarify her point she started, “He’s met with a few new First Order staff, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. They mostly discuss upcoming projects or updates as it concerns the Resistance, your excellency.”

Before Kylo could ask another question, Jaster chimed in unexpectedly.

“I will echo Kasari Ren’s report, Master. I also have not noticed a break in General Hux’s activities,” he stated rather dryly. “It does not appear as though the general is plotting against the First Order, at least not publicly.”

This was not what Kylo wanted to hear. It had been weeks since his knights had been assigned to follow Hux. He knew both of them were tiring from his order and he could feel their distaste for such a mundane activity, though he knew neither of them would openly say something. At a different time, before he assumed the mantle of Supreme Leader, Kasari Ren might have been more candid. They did have more of a casual relationship growing up.

Outside of the hard facts provided in their report, Kylo also wanted to know their thoughts. Did they have reason to believe Hux was up to something behind closed doors in his quarters? Surely after noting his every move for weeks, they would have a hunch. With that thought, he moved to ask, “Do either of you have reason to believe that he’s plotting something behind closed doors? Do you think there’s value in bugging his personal chambers?”

Without missing a beat, Kasari was quick to share her opinion, “I think it could certainly help. That’s the only place on the ship where we can’t watch him.” She paused a moment releasing a tired sigh before continuing. “What is it you want us to look for exactly? Is there another reason why you want us to follow him?”

Of course Kasari would push back. She would often question Luke’s instructions at the Jedi Temple, not to purposefully challenge his authority, but to better understand the reasons why things were done. Kasari, empathetic to her core, wanted to visualize what brought the Jedi of old to adopt their rules. Today, Kylo could sense Kasari’s intent. She wanted to understand why Kylo, Master of the Knights of Ren and leader of the First Order, would have such a fixation on Hux. She wanted to help him. Some things never seemed to changed.

However much Kylo wanted to share the burden of his worries - a potential coup, more assassination attempts, secret missions - with his knights, he decided against it. This was something that he wanted to keep to himself. Plus, these would only lead to more questions that would become too dangerous to answer. Where would he even begin to explain the treacherous acts he’s committed, all because of his fascination with the Lightsided scavenger? Murdering their master Snoke? Ruining Hux’s plans to bring Rey to justice? No. He would not be giving any more details than what was necessary.

“The details as to why I want you to watch Hux are irrelevant,” he stated sharply. He hoped this came off like a warning to let the subject go. “It’s not a secret that Hux and I have not seen eye-to-eye on a number of different initiatives. For now, he’s compliant and goes along without much resistance. I want to ensure it stays that way.”

He left the weight of his words hang in the air for a brief moment, allowing the silence to fill the room. Kasari and Jaster Ren would have to live with the fact that this was all the information they would be receiving from Kylo at the moment.

When the silence continued to grow, Kasari dropped her head back down. Was this a show of submission or frustration? Kylo couldn’t tell. He reached out and pressed his mind against Kasari’s hoping to find the thoughts that remained unspoken. She immediately became aware of his presence and, knowing full well why he was attempting to read her mind, threw her mental shields up preventing him from diving any further.

To Snoke, her clear unwillingness to share her thoughts would have been seen as insubordination. Kasari would have been shot straight through with lightning for such a display of disrespect, but Kylo was not Snoke. He wasn’t going to use the same cruel tactics on his knights, and so decided against probing further. If she wanted to say something, she should feel comfortable to do so in her own time. Besides, he wanted to return to his meditation, and his knights should really return to their posts.

Kylo was growing tired of a lack of information about Hux. It was time to push things along. If you wanted to get something done, sometimes the best thing to do was to do it yourself. Luckily for Kylo, he had the protection of his knights to back him up.

If it was true that the only time his knights couldn’t oversee Hux was when he was in his personal quarters, then maybe Kylo ought to see what Hux has been up to when not under the watchful eyes of his knights. As the Supreme Leader, Kylo’s personal keycode granted him full access to any and all locations on the ship, and that included the personal quarters of all the ship’s personnel, no matter the rank. Depending on the time, Kylo could probably slip in and out unnoticed.

Actually, now that he was thinking about it, Hux was supposed to be in a meeting for a few hours today with the military officers - his command. Kylo quickly glanced at the chrono mounted in the paneling. Yep. He’ll still be away for another two hours at the minimum. These meetings usually go longer than expected. This just may be the break Kylo needed.

With that, his mind was decided. He would just go through Hux’s quarters himself and get to the bottom of this. Maybe if he found nothing, it would finally put his mind at ease.

“Jaster Ren, you will resume watch over Hux for the remainder of the week, beginning the minute you are dismissed,” Kylo said shortly.

“Yes, Master.”

“As you should know, he is in a meeting right now. If the meeting is cut short for any reason, you are to alert Kasari via your comlink. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Kasari and I will be pushing this along. We’re going to bug his quarters, but first we need to see if he has anything to hide.”

At this, he turned to both Jaster and Kasari.

“Jaster, Kasari,” he said, his voice low, conveying the seriousness of what he was about to say.

“Yes Master?” they questioned.

“You will speak of this to no one. We cannot have General Hux catch on to what we are about to do. Am I making myself clear?”

“Yes, Master,” Kasari and Jaster answered immediately.

“Good.”

“Jaster, you may take your leave.”

Jaster rose at his command and strode across Kylo’s chambers, pausing only to allow the entrance to open with a swoosh as he swiftly made his way out.

Kylo moved to stand by Kasari who was still kneeling before him.

“Let’s go. We won’t have much time before Hux returns,” he said, casting his eyes down upon her.

They didn’t have far to go before arriving at Hux’s private quarters as the highest, most elite officials and staff shared the same floor as the Supreme Leader. Kylo ordered Kasari to stand watch and alert him if any suspicious activity arose via their comlink. She was hesitant at first, prefering to go with him should he need assistance in his search, but Kylo reassured her that her standing watch was needed more.

He punched in his keycode on the datapad just outside the door. A small red light flashed, announcing that he’d been cleared. As the door slid open, he stepped inside.

Kylo took a moment to consider Hux’s chambers. The floors were the same shiny black material found throughout the Finalizer. Like all other cabins on the ship, it was designed to be distinctly utilitarian, but unlike Kylo’s chambers which had very little personal possessions (save for his private collection of Jedi and Sith artifacts), Hux’s quarters was filled with trinkets neatly displayed or tucked away in their respective places.

The charcoal walls were adorned with certifications from some of the best primary schools and universities the Core worlds could offer. One wall in particular was covered in various medals: some from his time at the university and others obtained from his achievements in the First Order. Hux was nothing if not ambitious. Kylo could acknowledge that.

He crossed the room and began browsing through the small collection of books nested on a shelf above Hux’s desk, which held many works centered around military strategy during the days of the Rebellion. Another book highlighted prominent military leaders throughout the ages on both sides of the war. Then there was another one with a small tuft of paper sticking up through the pages like a flag. Thinking that it might offer up some useful insight, Kylo reached for the book and thumbed through the pages until he reached the one Hux had marked.

At the top of the page, there was a portrait of an officer wearing a First Order uniform with an impressive decoration of medals and pins adorning his left breast panel indicating his rank as a senior-level officer. Looking at his face, his hard eyes were an icy, pale blue that appeared to stare right through you. He looked like a man who didn’t give a damn about anyone who stood in his way. Ruthless was likely a more accurate description. But perhaps the most striking feature he possessed was a crown of bright red hair.

This was Hux’s father.

Sure enough, the name included under the photo confirmed his suspicions. While Kylo didn’t know much about the late Commandant Brendol Hux, he had heard stories about his harsh command. This was not a man you wanted to cross, unless of course you had a death wish.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Kylo shut the book and returned it back to its usual place on the shelf.

Nothing else around his desk was out of place. Everything was neat and tidy, so Kylo chose to move toward his wardrobe after running his hand along the underside of the desk to check for hidden drawers. Finding none, he moved on.

Unlike his own wardrobe, which mostly contained items in the darkest of blacks, Hux actually had some shades of gray and red mixed in amongst the otherwise neutral color scheme of the First Order uniforms. Oddly enough, there was one very red cape tucked away in the back of the closet behind the coats and jackets. This would surely make his red headed foe stick out like a sore thumb, Kylo thought.

Moving on after digging in between and behind the racks of hanging clothes, Kylo began opening all the drawers. One drawer that neatly held a set of belts with highly polished buckles contained a severely weathered book, its pages frayed at the edges.

Upon first glance, Kylo estimated this book to be 1,000 years old or more. The simple cover itself reminded him of the sacred Jedi texts Luke kept in his private room at the temple, the same ones that were now in Rey’s possession, minus a few pages that Kylo pulled for himself. Those were safely locked away on Mustafar in Darth Vader’s castle. Snoke had been in possession of the castle for years, but since Kylo had become his apprentice, Snoke had released any hold over it, claiming that it was Kylo’s birthright to have it. In that castle, Kylo only kept a handful of his most prized possessions, including a few Jedi and Sith holocrons.

Carefully, he lifted the book out of the drawer and crossed the room to take a seat at Hux’s desk to have better light to examine the book.

Kylo gingerly cracked open the cover revealing pages of text written in a language long forgotten by most in the galaxy, but not to Kylo. He was perhaps one of the few people left who could interpret its secrets for it was the same language found in one of the books Kylo had read while studying the many applications of the Force. The book before him, however, and the one he interpreted were vastly different. For starters, the book at Luke’s temple contained explanations in theory of what could be accomplished with the Force - Jedi mind tricks, healing, etc. - this one it seemed carried the knowledge of the Sith and the realities of how they used the Force, particularly in times of war.

This must be from the Jedi-Sith war which began in 1032 B.B.Y., he thought. Wow. He believed all the holocrons and texts were lost at this time from both the Jedi and the Sith. It was rare to find any recording written or spoken from the Sith since tradition dictated that knowledge be passed down verbally from master to apprentice. The Sith guarded their secrets well.

But the discovery of this book begged the question: how in the name of the Force did Hux find one of these texts? Maybe the more important question was: why would Hux keep it? It was no secret that Hux was afraid of the Force. All Kylo had to do was shoot his arm out and pretend like he was about to Force choke him to make the man jump out of his skin. Truly, Hux hated the Force. Which brought Kylo back to his question: why would Hux keep a Sith text?

Curiosity and, if Kylo was being honest, excitement flooded through him at the idea of reading a Sith text. He’d always loved to read, especially when he was younger and had more time to do so. His favorite areas of study were Sith and Jedi lore, along with the political history of the galaxy and, naturally, the rise and fall of his grandfather, Darth Vader. He particularly liked learning about his life as a Jedi before the fall of the Republic.

As he began thumbing through the pages, he noticed that some boasted highly detailed illustrations of Force techniques. One illustration in particular begged Kylo to stop his casual reading.

At first glance, the drawing of two heads facing opposite directions with a paler wavelength shared between them caught his breath. It appeared as though he discovered the mystery behind how Force bonds work, but what he stumbled upon instead was a description of a Sith technique they called “transfer essence.”

According to the text before him, transfer essence or transfer life as some called it, was a more radical dark side power used by Sith Lords to cheat death again and again. Usually with the help of a trusted servant, these ancient darksiders were able to transfer their soul or consciousness into a new vessel - a living or inanimate object.

Kylo’s blood ran cold as his greatest fear came crashing down upon him.

This would be the key to immortality.

Snoke...he thought in shear panic.

Would this is why Hux would keep this text? Would it even be possible for Hux to revive Snoke?

The thought that settled into his mind took hold like the ice storms of Hosnia. A thought that threatened to undo everything. A thought that filled Kylo with the same fear and dread he’d felt as a boy when his trusted uncle had come in the middle of the night to murder him.

Snoke could still be alive.

Snoke could still come for him.

He would never be free of his master.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 |Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 12

[whillsofstars]

#powercouple

[whillsofstars]

Chapter 10

Tumblr friends, I’m back! I’m so sorry that it’s taken me over a month to update this story. With my recent traveling and playing a lot of catch up at work as a result, I’m just starting to go back and edit some chapters that I’ve been saving for a while. I’ll try to continue updating my story at least weekly, but I will be traveling again next week (yay Iceland!) so we’ll see how it goes.  Enjoy!

P.S.  If anyone’s been to Iceland, I’d love to hear about your travels and will welcome any recommendations for things to see and do! 

REY-----------------------------------------------------

An irritating beeping sound slowly pulled Rey out of her sleep, the drowsiness of it still holding on as if trying to convince her otherwise.

Her body felt stiff, the pain in her shoulder throbbed, but it was nothing compared to what she felt in her leg. Pain seared from her thigh to toes when she tried to move it. And she felt weak, so weak. The effort of opening her eyes alone seemed like a challenge and Rey didn’t know if she cared to see her surroundings. At this moment, the knowledge that she was alive was enough and the thought of returning back to sleep was tempting. But there was something else, something warm that was coaxing her out of her hazy slumber.

Drawing a deep breath, Rey gave into the call and lazily opened her eyes as they adjusted to her brightly lit room. She turned her head to the side and found the source of the beeping. She was hooked up to a heart rate monitor, which must mean she was in a medical bay. Rey’s gaze lingered on the screen a few minutes, watching as the line steadily moved up and down forming uniform peaks.

The memory of the warmth she felt in her sleepy haze pulled her away from the monitor. It didn’t take long to discover where the source of this familiar warmth was coming from. At the side of her medical bed, Kylo Ren sat doubled over, head resting in the center of his crossed arms sleeping.

A slight shock spread through her, increasing the pace of her monitor. If he’s here, then where was she? Did Kylo lie about taking her to the Resistance?

It took Rey a minute to realize that he wasn’t actually in the same room. The bond had connected them again.

Calming down, Rey attempted to shift herself into a more comfortable position when she noticed that there was a weight over her right hand.

“Wait, is Kylo holding my hand?” Rey thought in disbelief.

She looked down and saw that it was true. He had even removed his gloves to do so. Understanding dawned on her as she realized where the warmth she was feeling came from. It had been Kylo Ren.

As strange as it was to admit, it felt kind of nice the way his hand, which was nearly double the size of hers, provided a steady flow of heat into her palm. Rey didn’t know why, but she didn’t expect this man to be so warm.

“How long he had been there?” She wondered.

Kriff was this strange. What was he doing here? Why was he holding her hand?

Her movement seemed to have tugged Kylo out of his sleep. He woke with a start, rubbing his face in his arms before turning to look at her.

“You’re awake,” he said, voice still gruff with sleep.

“How long has the bond been open?”

Kylo paused a minute before answering and focused his eyes on something Rey could not see, likely a chrono hanging on the wall of whatever room Kylo occupied, “Not long.” He must have sensed her disbelief because he added, “About four hours two days ago, six hours yesterday, and close to two hours today.”

Rey was about to call his bluff, but she knew he wasn’t lying. She would have sensed the lie. How and why did he feel it was necessary to spend so much time waiting here?

“The poison in that dart did quite a bit of damage to your system, which slowed down your recovery,” he said matter-of-factly.

“I’m impressed the Supreme Leader has that much time to kill doing nothing,” she said teasingly, although she truly was curious about that. She didn’t think the leader of the First Order would have much time for himself.

A huff of air passed through his nose as if he almost laughed at her remark. Almost. “The bond mostly opened up while I was in a meeting or during a sleep cycle. Since you were unconscious, it wasn’t a problem.”

“Oh,” she said quietly, letting the mental image of what it must have looked like for Kylo to hold an invisible hand during a meeting. It was almost comical. “Are you in some place more private now?” she wondered out loud.

He nodded, “In my suite on the Finalizer. It’s in the middle of a sleeping cycle here.”

“Sounds nice,” she said stiffly, remembering the living quarters among the Resistance. None of which would be as lavish as a First Order suite. Most of the quarters on their base were shared units. Rey was one of the few exceptions given her status of Resistance Jedi.

Kylo seemed to take the hint and changed the subject.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I fell from my speeder.”

“Hmm,” he acknowledged. “Well despite that, it seems like your leg and shoulder are healing nicely. The wounds are almost closed.”

Without thinking, Rey reached down to touch the spot on her thigh where a blaster bolt hit her. Sure enough, she felt that the wound appeared to be closing faster than normal. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she tried working through how that was possible.

“Force sensitives are able to harness healing abilities,” Kylo clarified. “I worked on it a few days ago, but with the high levels of toxin in your system, it made the process slower.”

First holding her hand and now healing her wounds? This just kept getting weirder and weirder. This was very unlike Kylo Ren. Or was it? In truth, she didn’t know him that well and the bond had just returned to them. Maybe this was the light that she felt was buried deep within him.

“You came for me,” she said quietly. “I wasn’t sure I’d get through. The bond just opened up.”

She could tell by the way he tilted his head that this piqued his curiosity. “Were you trying to force it open?” he asked.

“Um, I don’t really remember,” she said trying to focus on everything that happened that night. It all seemed like a blur in her memory now. “I was panicking and it was dark. I just remember feeling it open suddenly.”

“It’s possible your Force abilities took over without you realizing it. It’s not uncommon to discover a new ability when a person is put in high stress situations,” he said before adding, “This isn’t much different from Starkiller, I suppose.”

He was probably right. Thinking back, Rey remembered that she had acted on instinct when she reached for the saber. Without even trying, it just flew into her hand. Everything about that moment felt natural.

Rey shifted uncomfortably in the medical bed. It was proving to be a challenge finding the right lying position without putting too much pressure on her shoulder or leg. And must that incessant beeping continue? Rey was determined to get out of here as fast as she could.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

“How did you know where I was?” she asked meeting Kylo’s gaze. Was his stare always so intense? It felt as though Kylo’s eyes could look right through her.

“General Hux announced your capture on Kashyyyk in our meeting, but your presence in the Force is strong. Others like us could find you given enough time to meditate,” he informed her. “I just have the advantage of the bond.”

“So you always know where I am?” she asked for clarification. Rey did not like the sound of that. If Kylo knew where she was at all times, the Resistance could be in big trouble. She could hear the heart rate monitor jump as her nervousness crept in.

Kylo seemed to catch on to what she left unsaid. “To a degree.”

“Oh.” It was all she could think to say before another thought crossed her mind.

“Did you kill them?” While Rey was thankful for Kylo’s help, she didn’t like the thought of him using violence on her behalf.

Kylo simply nodded his head, to her disappointment.

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

“Is that your solution to everything?”

“I did what I must.”

“Couldn’t you have just knocked them out? They deserved a trial.”

“Rey,” he said slowly, as if he were trying to explain something to a child. “If I would have left any of those filthy bounty hunters alive, I would have jeopardized my position in the First Order and you would still be at risk of another attack. What would’ve you advised me to do?”

Okay, she hated to admit it, but he was right.

“Why was the First Order only after me in the first place?” she continued. “If you were planning an attack, why not make a move on the whole Resistance? Or are we more of a threat than you keep stating we are?”

“I wasn’t aware that this was going to be an interrogation,” he said flatly. “You haven’t been this talkative since the bond first connected us.”

“Just answer my questions.” Rey was having none of this. She had a feeling there was something that Kylo was not telling her and she could sense his frustration.

He released a frustrated sigh and obliged. “Okay, first of all, I didn’t have a hand in this. It was Armitage Hux. I knew nothing. And second, he was seeking revenge for Snoke’s murder.”

Understanding washed over her and in an instant, she yanked her hand out from under his.

“I can’t believe you!”

“You not only refused my offer, you left me for dead on the Supremacy surrounded by the First Order,” he snarled. “Had I told the truth, I wouldn’t have attained the opportunity that was laying at my feet.”

“It’s all about the power for you isn’t it?” she accused. Rey was furious. How dare he blame her for his actions!

“Would’ve you preferred Supreme Leader Hux?” he countered. “Under his rule, the Resistance would’ve been destroyed months ago.”

She said nothing but continued to stare daggers at him. Yes, Hux would probably be far worse than Kylo, but she wasn’t about to agree with him. Not openly any way.

Her silence pushed Kylo to argue his point. “Rey, I want this war to end. No one wants to keep fighting. By taking control of the First Order, I have a chance to make the galaxy better.”

“I don’t see how Crait was making the galaxy better,” she snapped.

Silence fell between them, cold and bitter, with only the sound of the heart rate monitor filling the void around them. Rey could feel Kylo’s temper rising through the bond, so close to crossing over into an outburst. He wanted to release the overwhelming emotions building in his chest. But Rey also felt something unsuspected, he was holding back.

Kylo kept his eyes locked on hers, the ferocity that shown within them was terrifying. He slowly took in one deep breath before speaking. “I was angry,” he confessed through gritted teeth. “Angry for being weak when the Force connected us. Angry at myself for foolishly believing the vision I had when we touched hands. Angry that you refused my offer. Once again, everything that I had faith in was a lie.”

He released what remained of his breath with a huff. He finally broke her gaze, staring vacantly across the room. “I know that’s no excuse.”

Rey was at a loss for words. Did he just admit to making a mistake? It didn’t sound like an apology. She wondered if this was as close as she was going to get from Kylo. He was right, though. There was no excuse for what he ordered on Crait. She was frustrated at the damage done by his inability to manage his emotions; yet, at the same time she couldn’t help feeling pity for him. This man sitting at the side of her bed had been manipulated and ordered around by Snoke for years. To find the things you believe in to be a lie is a hard truth to face.

She wanted to comfort him, at least a little, and she started reaching for the warmth of his hand. But before her hand could reach his, she froze when the door to her medical bay opened with a swoosh announcing an unexpected visitor.

“Rey! Good to see that you’re awake,” Poe said eagerly as he casually made his way to stand by her bedside, with Kylo predictably fuming on the other side.

“Oh!” Rey exclaimed, truly surprised that he stopped in. “Hi Poe.”

“How are you doing?” Now that he was closer, the woodsy smell of his aftershave hung thick in the air between them as he bent down lower to meet her eyes. “It looked like you took some pretty nasty wounds when they ambushed us.”

“Yeah, I did, but it was the dart that got me. It all happened so fast.”

Poe blinked in surprise. “You were hit with a dart?”

“Yeah. It worked fast,” said Rey, thinking back to that night. “I just remember everything going numb and then all I saw was black.”

“Rey, I’m sorry that I didn’t have your back during the fight,” he said softly as he took her hand in his. “Finn and I were taking a lot of fire and the next thing I knew, you were gone.”

At his bold action, Rey finally caught on. Poe liked her. For this desert scavenger, who had little to no affection growing up, she selfishly basked in his. But this did make for an awkward moment as she noticed white hot anger bleed through the bond from Kylo. And hell, she didn’t know if she returned the feelings Poe had for her. Being in the middle of a war, the idea of a relationship never crossed her mind.

Not wanting to encourage Poe, she decided to change the subject.

“How’s Finn? Is he okay?”

Poe seemed to be a little deflated at her question, but he went along with it. “Yeah, he’s fine,” he said shortly. “He’s been stopping by to see you every day when he gets a minute. We both have.”

“Well, somehow I’m fine,” she said teasingly. “I’m just glad you both are okay. I would have hated seeing either of you get hurt in my defense.”

“Those bounty hunters were good. They knew what they were doing…but the funny thing is, it was a bounty hunter who brought you back,” he said, pondering over his own thoughts.

“What? That doesn’t make sense.” Rey played along, knowing full well that it was Kylo who should be thanked for her return. She glanced over at him, but he appeared to be lost in his own thoughts. She noticed that her right hand was still so close to his.

“That’s what I said!” he exclaimed, and tightened the grip on her hand out of excitement. “I thought our guy was high on spice when he told me, but sure enough, there you were.”

He moved in closer as if he was about to share a secret, the woodsy scent he carried with him grew stronger. “He said a large guy came racing into camp on one of their land speeders and asked for General Organa. They couldn’t see his face though. He kept his helmet on the whole time.”

Keeping her movements as discreet as possible, she slowly squeezed Kylo’s hand, acknowledging what he had done for her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his head turn towards her and felt his interest in the conversation return. He was still fuming from Poe’s actions, though. Had Kylo been here in person, it’s very likely Poe would now have one less hand to pilot his X-wing. She could feel his possessiveness seep through the bond, although softened a bit by Rey’s touch.

She wondered if Poe had attempted to track this “mystery man” down.

“Any leads on this guy?”

“Nah,” he confessed, running his spare hand through his hair. “He just vanished.”

Good.

Now Poe was staring at her more intently, his expression softened quite a bit. “Rey, I’m sorry. I should have kept better tabs on you during the fight.”

“Really, Poe. It’s okay,” she said trying to brush it off. “There was a lot going on.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s just, when they took you, I...I was scared that we really did lose you. That I wouldn’t see you again.” Poe tightened his grip on her hand to emphasize his point. “You have no idea how relieved I am to have you back.”

That did it. Kylo had had enough. Rey could now feel white hot anger pour through their bond.

He released a frustrated huff and made a move to leave the side of Rey’s medical bed.

Just before he was able to do so, her grip tightened, firmly holding his hand in place. Despite his temper (which was likely close to the tipping point by now), despite his actions on Crait, and despite the fact that they found themselves on opposing sides of this war, having him here felt right somehow.

Kylo cocked one of his eyebrows in surprise. When her grip didn’t let up, he took the hint and settled back down while giving Rey a questioning look inclining his head towards Poe.

It was then that Rey withdrew her hand from under Poe’s and placed it on her lap. It pained her to see his face harden with the realization of the message behind Rey’s actions. Poe was a good man. He deserves someone who cared for him just as sincerely.

“Poe, thank you for checking on me,” Rey said softly, while masking the uncomfortable feelings swirling in her chest. She didn’t want the situation she found herself in to drag out. “Truly, I appreciate it. But if it’s alright, I could use a little more time to rest. I’m still feeling pretty weak.”

He understood the underlying message behind her words and after releasing a breath, nodded his head. “Sure thing Rey,” he said reaching out to pat her shoulder. “Take all the time you need.”

Poe gazed at her a few moments, letting a smile grow across his lips before standing up. He took one step closer to Rey and bent down to plant a chaste kiss on her forehead before he walked to the door.

Just as it opened, he turned back around. “When you’re up for it again, come find me and we’ll practice your flying drills. You still have a few maneuvers that could use some polishing,” he said with a smile. Clearly, he was teasing her on that last part.

The warmth of his offer spread through Rey. “I will. Thanks Poe.”

With a final nod, he stepped over the threshold and closed the door with a swoosh behind him, leaving Rey alone with Kylo Ren once more.

The two of them sat in silence once more, letting what just occurred hang in the space between them.

When Rey finally turned her attention back to Kylo, his face held an expression that she had never seen him wear before. Truth be told, she wouldn’t have been able to imagine it if she tried. This was not very Kylo Ren.

“I didn’t think you knew how to smile,” she teased. While it was slight, there was no mistaking the way his lips turned upright at the corners. Smiling. Thee Kylo Ren was actually smiling.

Kylo’s face softened all the more at her remark. His deep, brown eyes, those same eyes that she felt as if they could see into the depths of her soul, crinkled at the corners. His smile grew just a little wider. He was happy. Kylo Ren was truly happy.

The same warmth she felt before when she woke to find him sitting at her bedside returned, flowing through her like water coursing through a river. She welcomed the feeling of comfort and belonging that came with it, using the familiar to guide her back to sleep.

In this moment, the man sitting beside her was no longer Kylo Ren. This was Ben Solo. The man very few in the galaxy would ever know.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |

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You already know the truth.

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“Kylo, his entreaty rejected, had flung up his own hand, harnessing the Force to arrest the lightsaber’s flight. The weapon hung in the air between them, quivering faintly. Rey stared at it, willing it into her grasp. But Kylo was pulling it toward him with equal determination. Between them, the lightsaber shivered and danced. They stared at each other, eyes locked. Rey could feel the Force heaving like the sea on Ahch-To, whipped into a fury by their attempts to manipulate it. And she could feel the kyber crystal at the heart of the weapon seeking a resonance, trying to find harmony where there was only dissonance. Caught in their tug-of-war, the crystal seemed to keen in the Force, a wail that Rey could feel in her bones. She and Kylo were sweating now, neither willing to give so much as a millimeter in their standoff. Until, finally, the crystal sheared apart, its unleashed energy tearing the lightsaber’s housing in half and filling the throne white.”

The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition, Jason Fry.

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Today’s episode is the first of our series, Psychology of the Characterization.

Our premise is that the three leads of the Sequel Trilogy: Rey, Ben Solo, and Finn, all share the same core conflict: childhood abandonment. This conflict has played out in completely different ways for them because of differences in temperament/personality, environment and subsequent life story.

We’ll discuss how these three story arcs are impacted by childhood abandonment, and break down their key character traits. With the storytelling premise that the core conflict must eventually be addressed by the story, we discuss how this shared background can eventually influence outcomes for the three leads of the ST in episode IX and beyond.

In today’s episode we focus on Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. Naturally. u_u

We’re approaching our analysis of Ben’s personality structure using Heinz Kohut’s Self Psychology model, which posits that a failure in parental empathy during childhood can lead to poor self esteem that, when accompanied by other vulnerabilities, can later become the core of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  

In Ben Solo we find a child who suffered from *perceived emotional abandonment and rejection by his parental figures, resulting in narcissistic traits: fluctuations between grandiosity and ideas of low self-worth, vulnerability to slights and need for admiration, and specific instances of narcissistic injury followed by narcissistic rage. Importantly, we highlight characterological traits but believe that it is not possible or appropriate to diagnose the character with a personality disorder (see Lee’s rant on the matter).

We also contend that Ben lacks a key element of NPD: lack of empathy. We believe that his interactions with Rey and to some extent Finn show a strong capacity for empathy that bodes well for his eventual rehabilitation.

In today’s episode we also discuss:

The origins of Kylo Ren as a narcissistic projection of Ben Solo, designed to protect a fragile ego that is “being torn apart and wants to be free of this pain.”

While Kylo Ren believes that eliminating Ben Solo will lead to healing and escape from pain, we maintain that integrating the two pieces and healing the split through love will eventually lead to Ben’s redemption.

We overview the three personality clusters and common primitive defense mechanisms, including splitting, projection, projective identification, and regression.

We discuss how the Reylo connection impacts Ben’s arc and illuminates important aspects of his personality and character structure that would otherwise be overlooked    like the fact that he admires strong women and isn’t intimidated by them, that he is capable of not just empathy, but compassion, and other signs that bode well for a satisfying conclusion to his arc.

Today’s episode was edited by Lee. You can find the audio only version on our Soundcloud and iTunes. 

In the next episode of this series we’ll discuss more Kylo Ren, more Finn and Rey and of course: Reylo. Stay tuned for more!

Our goal with this series is to deepen our understanding and appreciation of our favorite characters using psychoanalytical theory and storytelling analysis. As always, we are open to differing interpretations; you are welcome to comment in our video or contact us on social media or at lordsofthesith.podcast@gmail.com.

Let’s get the conversation started!

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Its energy surrounds us…binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.

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reblog this if you’re a reylo blog i need to follow more people !

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NEW BEHIND THE SCENES PICS OF STAR WARS EPISODE lX

What the hell are they doing ??? 🤣🤣🤣

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Before the computing era, ILM was the master of oil matte painting, making audiences believe that some of the sets in the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogy were real when they weren’t. They were the work of geniuses like Chris Evans, Michael Pangrazio, Frank Ordaz, Harrison Ellenshaw and Ralph McQuarrie ! Forever thank you, to their handmade art and the work of their colleagues, that made us dream of impossible worlds and fantastic places across Earth and the Universe.

There are more background paintings on this article, featuring comments by the masters/artists themselves ! 

Some of the following pieces were made by other artists:

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Chapter 9

There’s been a lot of Kylo Ren chapters lately, but I have a point to this, I swear. Just hold out for the next few chapters. Things are going to get interesting folks. Also, I’m introducing two knew characters in this chapter. I hope you like them!

As always, please let me know what you think! Your messages and comments really keep me going! 

KYLO REN -----------------------------------------

While the bridge of the Finalizer buzzed with activity, the office adjacent to the main walkway which Kylo had claimed for himself was silent. It was one of the few places Kylo could actually get some work done. Kylo needed to get to stay diligent if he ever hoped to remake the galaxy into what he envisioned. It was also one of the places where he could feel the bond with Rey the strongest.

In Kylo’s vision, smaller worlds that were previously ignored during the age of the Galactic Senate would have a greater share of voice. Much of the disadvantages given to these worlds could have been avoided had they been given equal representation in the Senate. Instead, it was the Core worlds who flourished and reaped the benefits of the raw materials harvested in the Rim worlds. Unfortunately, those same worlds saw a limited return of that money. Often, it was given to the top officials of these planets under the assumption that it would get where it was due. This was a mistake, as they often hoarded it for themselves. This mistake is what led people into less favorable lines of work. This mistake is how smugglers, like his father, became so successful.

His grandfather would be proud of him for trying to empower these planets, Tatooine being one of them. There was very little record of Anakin Skywalker’s childhood, but the archives Kylo did find detailed the fact that his grandfather began his life as a slave. Slavery, that would be one more thing Kylo would do away with. Yes, he felt Vader would be very proud of his work.

This would also extend into the Stormtrooper program. He would end the act of ripping children from their families. While it wasn’t exactly the same, Kylo could identify with them. He often felt that he had been sent away from his family before he had been ready. But his mother and uncle insisted that he begin training as a Jedi. Part of this stemmed from the old Jedi ways of taking children from their families early. The other part was his family’s fear of him - of the Dark Side, of Snoke’s whispers in his ear. They wanted to stamp the Dark Side out of him. Luke Skywalker, above all others, feared the Dark Side and the power it promised.

And look where the Dark Side brought him. He, Kylo Ren, was now one, if not thee, most powerful man in the galaxy. He would make things right and carve his own destiny. He would rule. But this vision couldn’t come true if there was no balance in his new galaxy. Kylo paused for a moment and squeezed the tiny hand he held gently in his. Rey’s hand.

The bond had opened between them a few hours ago when Kylo sought refuge in his office, away from the busyness of the bridge. Her body was still recovering from the damage of the toxin contained within the dart that stung her. It had only been a day since he came to her aid on Kashyyyk, but the need to check on her was strong. She had been so battered and weak that, while he hated to admit it, seeing her in that state frightened him. So when the bond had connected them again, relief was allowed to settle in his mind.

When he first laid eyes on her, assessing the extent of her wounds, Kylo was reminded of a time when he fell ill and was required to stay in bed to recover a few days. He had been very small then, not more than five standard years, and he had caught a very strong case of the flu. His mother stayed with him through the night just holding his hand. His father, on the other hand, was off on a smuggling run. Kylo remembered how he tried putting on a brave face and assured his mother that she didn’t have to hold his hand. She had smiled the way only a mother does when looking at her child and told him that “sometimes the best medicine is to hold someone’s hand. They’ll know that they are looked after and cared for. The touch of someone who cares for you can sometimes be the very thing that gives you strength.”

With his mother’s advice in mind, Kylo continued to hold Rey’s hand in his left while he worked and found that he felt the balance he craved when doing so. It only served to confirm his intentions. Rey and all the light she held within her needed to rule by his side. She would be perfect. Her strength matched his. She could balance them perfectly. Plus, he wanted her perspective in the new order he would establish. She came from one of the very worlds he wanted to rebuild. She would have a better understanding of their needs.

But there was just one problem with this. Kylo still had not figured out how to convince her to join him. She had already rejected his offer after he killed his master. He also doubted that she would ever leave those Resistance scum she called friends. But Kylo was a Skywalker, one of the most powerful bloodlines of Jedi and Sith in the galaxy, and he had the Force on his side. He could and would bring about a new order. One day, Rey will see the opportunity he placed before her. She’ll come around.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He would have to figure that out another day. Right now, he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Today, Kylo requested a meeting with the First Order’s lead in economic and social affairs to hear about the progress being made in the Rim worlds. He was curious to know if the schools were well attended or if any headway was being made to establish more fairness and order in their governments. It fueled his drive to keep working. The First Order would be made the best version of itself thanks to his work and his vision. He would put up with the nagging politics of it all to see his vision come to fruition. He just needed to find a way to keep the First Order hardliners at bay. Many of them grew up in awe of the Empire and the idea that a government should force its citizens into compliance through fear tactics and brute force. Snoke had adopted this same strategy during his reign.

The thing about this line of thinking is that too much fear drives people to their limits. It’s out of a growing tiredness of fear that people decide they’ve had enough. For those who have the passion and time available will start building rebellions. Snoke had failed to learn from the Empire in that regard, which is why the Resistance will be hard to eradicate completely. There will always be someone or some group to take its place so long as unbending laws rule the galaxy.

A knock from the door pulled Kylo out of his thoughts. The heavy metal door to his office slid open, breaking the silence that settled over his domain with a swoosh. Instead of the officer Kylo was expecting, it was General Hux who stood lurking on the other side of the door. He quickly  marched over the threshold, wasting no time as he made his way towards Kylo’s desk, the heels of his shoes echoing on the hard shiny floors with every step.

The red haired man peered down at him with a sneer across his face. Kylo met his gaze with a hard stare of his own. Hux was clearly furious after finding out that his prize had been lost. When the bounty hunters failed to arrive on the Finalizer, everyone knew that the Jedi girl managed to escape. The nature of her escape was still unknown and Hux was embarrassed at his failure. It only served to fuel his anger further. This was a man who didn’t like to lose.

Kylo tightened his hand on Rey’s ever so slightly as if to assure her that she was safe. The man standing before him will pay for what he had done. One day, he would pay. Kylo would make sure of it. But not today. Whether Kylo cared to admit it or not, he needed Hux for the time being. General Hux was popular among most commanding officers and with much of the First Order’s supporters as a result of his regular appearances giving inspiring speeches on the holonet. To many in the galaxy, Hux was the face of the First Order. Hardly anyone identified with the mysterious Kylo Ren, especially since most only saw him wearing a mask. This being the case, Kylo needed to get Hux to follow through with his orders so the rest would follow suit.

Well, whatever Hux was here for, Kylo wanted to get this over with so that he could find a moment’s peace once again. He took in a slow breath to center himself before addressing him.

“Hux,” he said flatly.

Hux pursed his lips into a hard line that showed his annoyance at Kylo’s blatant lack of respect for his rank. But despite this taunting, Hux remained silent all the same. After all, it was far worse to talk back to the Supreme Leader. Kylo couldn’t help but enjoy the power he had over him in this moment. It felt good so he decided to push it further. Might as well twist the knife a little.

“Still upset with your failure to capture the Jedi girl, I see.”

At that, Hux let go of his composure, his face distorting into a scowl. “There was foul play, Ren!” he all but shouted, spitting out every word. “Someone knew where to find them and --”

“Of course there was foul play,” said Kylo cutting him off. He was in no mood to listen to Hux’s theory on how she got away. “They were on the same planet as the Resistance and failed to move quick enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a tracking device embedded under her skin somewhere. What did you expect would happen if you targeted their biggest recruitment tool?” he added pointedly before noting the increased pace of Rey’s heart monitor.

Is she able to sense my emotions? Kylo wondered as he waited for Hux to speak.

“No! This had to have been an inside job,” Hux roared now throwing his hands into the air. “Those were some of the most highly recommended hunters in the galaxy. They would not have made a simple mistake like that.”

Hux took a step closer and jabbed his gloved pointer finger on the surface of Kylo’s desk, emphasizing his point. “You’re wrong. Whoever freed that Jedi knew where to find them. It was an inside job.”

And now it was Kylo’s turn to feed his anger. Kylo released Rey’s hand and placed both of his flat on the surface of his desk as he slowly rose from his chair. At his full height, Kylo was just inches taller than Hux, but even the slight difference created an effective intimidation tactic.

“Then it’s clear that you put your faith in the wrong people Hux,” Kylo said evenly, making sure to emphasize every word. “Your lack of attention cost you your prize and the First Order’s chance at revenge for Snoke’s death.”

“I didn’t want to run the risk of a spy warning the Resistance of our surprise attack on the girl,” he snapped bearing his teeth before pausing a moment. “In fact, the only people of the First Order who knew of the attack were in that conference room,” he said slowly as a new thought began settling in his mind. “Someone there must have been the leak.” His voice began trailing off as his eyes returned to meet Kylo’s.

Kylo needed to stamp out this line of thinking fast. Hux’s revelation was getting close, too close to discovering the truth of what happened. Hux could not uncover the truth. It would ruin everything Kylo had worked for since taking his reign as Supreme Leader. A man like Hux would bring the galaxy to ruin and destroy everything Kylo had accomplished thus far. Plus, Kylo would be publicly out from the First Order. It would be a fight for his life if it came to that. And the power he now held would be lost.

After killing his master and taking up the mantle, Kylo finally felt in control of his life. He answered to no one. He would not give this up without a fight - a vicious one.

“Careful Hux. Those are all of the First Order’s top commanding officers. They are all battle tested and have served long careers fighting for our cause,” he said, voice lowered hoping Hux would hear the threat. “Many of them lost family and friends on Starkiller and on the Supremacy.”

“Tell me,” he continued, “Is it so difficult for your simple mind to believe the girl didn’t have a tracking device?”

At that moment, Hux’s face flared with anger, for there is nothing that can get under his skin quite like an attack on his intelligence. Hux prided himself above all else on his command of strategy and his cunning. Before speaking, he took in a sharp breath throw his flared nostrils.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? You presume that I was awarded the title of General - to command our armies - by being of a simple mind? No. Unlike you, Ren, I actually had to work for this position. You are a fool if you do not see the threat before --”

Hux’s hands darted to his throat as he began desperately gulping for air that would never reach his lungs. This was not the first time he’d been captive to Kylo’s Force choke, but it was always a terrible experience. In mere seconds, the once enraged man who dared barge into Kylo’s office was reduced to nothing more than an insect clutched within his palm desperate for salvation.

Oh, how Kylo enjoyed the control he had over him in this moment, and the feel of release that came whenever he used the Dark Side. He let it wash over him, the effect intoxicating.

“Such disrespect,” tutted Kylo as he increased his hold on Hux. “Do not forget with whom you speak. I am the Supreme Leader. I will bring us into a new age where the galaxy will praise the work of the First Order. I will not tolerate your paranoia any longer. Understood?”

The near purple Hux gave a few quick nods before crashing to the floor as Kylo released him, quenching the fire that burned his lungs with precious oxygen. After a few gasping breaths, Hux began slowly righting himself.

“Now get out. I have another meeting with our Captain of Economic and Social Affairs and I do not have time for this,” he barked, not giving Hux a moment to collect himself.

With the memory of Kylo’s Force choke fresh in his mind, Hux turned on his heel and made his way back towards the door. Before opening the door, General Hux paused and turned back to face Kylo as if to say something. His lips parted to release the thoughts circling within his mind, but no sound came forth. Instead, it seemed like he thought better than to continue their conversation. With his head held high, he returned to the threshold and took his leave.

Kylo remained standing a few moments longer, his eyes still trained on the door in front of him, waiting to see if Hux decided to grow a spine and reveal what had been lingering on his mind, but he never returned. With the calm once again restored to his office, Kylo let out a deep sigh and sank back into his chair, his thoughts now racing to find a solution to quell Hux’s inquisition. If he allowed Hux to continue, he may actually discover what Kylo had done. His treacherous actions would cost him.

Was it worth it? Kylo wasn’t sure. All he knew was that, despite his best efforts, there was a need within him to seek the light, and that meant seeking Rey. He needed her to bring balance to the Force. She was the light and he was the darkness, both evenly matched in their power. No one would interfere with his plans for the future he envisioned, especially Hux.

At the threat of Hux’s continued meddling, Kylo reached for his comlink and brought the small device to his lips. “Tell Jaster Ren and Kasari Ren that Supreme Leader Ren requests their audience in his office on the bridge.”

It didn’t take long before another knock sounded against his door. Within minutes, the only two Knights of Ren aboard the Finalizer knelt before their master waiting for his command.

Both of the knights before him had fled with Kylo the night Luke had moved to strike him down. They too had witnessed the fall of their beloved Jedi master and the destruction of the Jedi temple Luke had worked so hard to build. When Kylo had stood up to his uncle and chose to flee to Snoke, they agreed to go with him, pledging their lives to the Dark Side.

Before that fateful night, Kylo had never really spoke with Jaster Ren. He was a few years older than Kylo, a strapping man about the same height with long, lanky limbs built for swiftness and agility. Yet he spent most of his time sitting in meditation. When he was around others, Jaster was quiet, offering very little commentary to a discussion unless directly asked. When he did speak, there was no hiding the intelligence of Jaster’s mind. He was sharp and well learned. Had he been a Jedi in the times of the Galactic Senate, he would have made an excellent advisor to the politicians, as his cleverness was matched by none.

When Snoke had originally formed the Knights of Ren, Jaster was the only one who dared to challenge Kylo for dominance over their group. After a heated clash, each one pushing their command of the Force to their limits, it all came to an end when Kylo recognized a pattern in Jaster’s movements and leveraged the power behind his attack against him. In one downward strike with the blunt end of his hilt, Kylo dealt a deadly blow to the back of Jaster’s head knocking him unconscious. The fight was over and Kylo was pronounced Master of the Knights of Ren.

Kasari, on the other hand, Kylo had met when he first arrived at the temple. She was also a new apprentice, and had been with Luke only a handful of weeks before Kylo began his training. They were often paired together to practice their abilities, and Kasari was all too happy to oblige. Unlike the rest of the Knights of Ren, she possessed a kind spirit and was more willing than most to lend a hand even when it wasn’t expected of her to do so. Because of her character, most within the First Order would think her weak, but Kylo knew better than to mistake her kindness for weakness. Her usually calm demeanor disappeared the minute she stepped into battle. When engaged in a duel, she was ferocious and held nothing back. While no one would guess by her physical appearance, Kasari possessed impressive strength and sharp telekinetic abilities, which she used to her advantage. Underestimating Kasari would only result in death.

Not wanting to waste any more time than necessary, Kylo decided to skip the pleasantries.

“Rise my knights,” he commanded.

“Yes, Master,” they said in unison, both rising to stand at attention.

“Jaster Ren and Kasari Ren, your haste in answering my call is appreciated.”

While the mask prevented Kylo from seeing her expression, Kylo could sense Kasari’s pride. “Of course, Master,” she said. “The Knights are in your service. Command, and it shall be done.”

“Thank you Kasari, that’s what I hoped,” he said, sinking a little lower in his chair. He stroked small circles on Rey’s hand, determining how to proceed without giving too much of his plan away. It didn’t take long before he knew what his knights should do.

“Both of you are to watch over General Hux from the moment you leave my office until I say otherwise,” he commanded, his voice low and even. “You will report back to me on all of his movements. Where he spends his time, who he is meeting with, if there is a break in his schedule, you get the idea. Assume no detail is too mundane to report,” he added.

His command must have caught the two knights by surprise. They both turned to briefly look at one another before turning their attention back on Kylo. Like he had expected, Kasari was the one who would attempt to clear their confusion.

“Permission to speak, Master?” she asked.

“Granted,” he said with a slight nod.

For a few moments, she didn’t say anything. She just continued to stand there staring back at him from behind her mask. He could sense her unease, her hesitation to say what was on her mind, her desire to prod.

“Lady Kasari,” Kylo said softly before continuing, “I am not Snoke. Please understand that you can say what is on your mind and I won’t harm you. You are also of the Knights of Ren. You do not need to ask permission to speak, but you do need to follow my command. Now, what’s on your mind?” He hoped the reminder of his rank within the Knights would serve as a final warning that his will must be followed. He would not allow disobedience among his knights.

Silence continued to fill the space between them. He could feel her using the Force to sense if what he had said was a lie. Kylo wasn’t trying to mislead her. In fact, he meant what he said. Kylo did  not want to rule like Snoke had through fear and manipulation. He wanted his Knights unyielding devotion, but they needed to put their trust in him and that begins by allowing them to feel like what they have to say matters. He was pleased when Kasari dipped her head, validating that what he had said rang true.

“Thank you,” Kasari replied. “Master, I worry that if we’re following his every move, there will be little time for other duties to which we are assigned. For what reasons does the general need such tight surveillance?”

Well, he wasn’t surprised by her question. In addition to her kindness, Kasari was also very inquisitive.

Kylo inhaled deeply, letting the air fill every corner of his lungs before allowing himself to exhale. In this moment, he really wished that he still had his helmet. It was always difficult for him to conceal his emotions, his eyes often betraying what he thought, and he knew Kasari was focusing on them.

He casually stole a glance at Rey’s unconscious body before providing an explanation.

“I believe Hux is organizing a coup within the First Order,” he said matter of factly. “While we can’t prove it, at least not yet, I believe he was responsible for the two assassination attempts on my life since I assumed the mantle of Supreme Leader, a position that, with a doubt, Hux wanted to secure for himself.”

Before she made any move to comment on his declaration, Kasari raised her hands, each landing on either side of her head, and with a quick, metal pop, removed her helmet. Her long, raven hair was pulled back into a low chignon, characteristic of all the women among the First Order ranks. Her bronze skin was a lot paler than he remembered it to be, likely because of the helmet she always wore, but not her eyes. Her eyes retained that same warm, amber hue that he remembered. She could make anyone feel at ease just by looking at them. Today, however, her eyes held a fire in them.

“Master are you certain?” she said, staring him straight in the eye.

“We both know Hux isn’t one to sit on the sidelines, especially if there is something he wants,” he rebuked. “If he is plotting something, we will want to put an end to his efforts swiftly and permanently.”

He paused for a minute, letting his half truth sink in before continuing, “Is that understood?”

“Yes, Master,” they said in unison.

“Good. Be as discreet as possible. Take extra measure to ensure that your task remains undiscovered.”

“Yes, Master,” they said.

Before releasing them, Kylo turned his attention to the other knight in his presence. Jaster Ren had not surprisingly remained silent since he walked in, only uttering a few responses. Like Kasari, Kylo could sense within the Force that Jaster held questions of his own. While Kylo was mainly curious about Jaster’s thoughts, he also wanted to remind his knights of his strength within the Force so he decided to put Jaster on the spot.

“Jaster, I sense some reservation from you,” he said. “Tell me what is on your mind.”

At first, Jaster said nothing and just inclined his head. After a few moments passed, he turned his mask to directly face Kylo before revealing his thoughts. “Master, I fear this assignment may be more for your personal interest rather than to prevent a coup within the First Order,” he said evenly with no hint of embarrassment.

“Explain yourself,” he commanded.

This time, Jaster’s response came immediately. “It’s not a secret that you and General Hux have been challenging one another for control within the First Order since Snoke gave you permission to override any command given to our armies. I wonder if you are simply using the reports we’ll provide as a means to overcome your contention.”

Jaster’s response was so casual that Kylo couldn’t help but feel disrespected.

“That was quite bold of you Jaster. After all we have been through, all that we have sacrificed to get to where we are today, you dare doubt my commitment to the First Order?”

“No. Forgive me, Master. I only sought reassurance that the wellbeing of the First Order was at the heart of our efforts.”

“It is,” he said curtly. “Now, do either of you have any further questions? Kasari?”

Kylo already knew the answer. Kasari was straightforward. If she had any questions, there was no hesitation to ask.

Kasari shook her head.

“Jaster?” he questioned, peaking an eyebrow almost daring Jaster to say something.

Jaster also gave a slight shake of his head, though less enthusiastically than Kasari.

“Speak of this to no one,” he commanded. “Do you understand?”

“As you wish, Master,” they said in unison.

“Good. Now go. May the Force be with you,” he added with their usual blessing.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8