Chapter 1 HELP
This connection felt different than those times that spontaneously erupted between himself and Rey. Very quickly he realized she was consciously contacting him through the force. They had not spoken since the throne room. Just a few brief episodes had happened and he'd pointedly ignored her refusing to recognize her presence. Her reach this time was opened with a direct plea.
"I offered you to come with me and you refused. There is no reason to further communicate," he cuts her off. She's been about to remind him of half-hopes and a future she claims to know. He doesn't believe her.
Rey swallows her pride and reaches for him. She has spent four months unable to control the powers that are now awake in her. They are dangerous and getting more and more out of control. Her emotions are triggering destructive reactions that have made her stay planet-bound, now. She's afraid her uncontrolled energies will damage a ship. She's hurt people. Her anger erupts almost instantaneously into flashes of shattering power against those who upset her. She is appalled and has separated herself from her friends. She has tried meditating, but it isn't working. Things are getting steadily worse.
"I need help," she says softly. Carefully simple because he'll strip bare any attempt to lie.
"Help with what, Rey? You think you understand all of the universe, me. You cannot…"
"I've hurt people I didn't mean to," she confesses.
He thinks she's referring to him, then quickly realizes what she's saying. He understands. He was sent away to train when he began causing accidents and destruction.
"You could have ruled by my side, but you were too good for that. I won't pretend that option is still open." He speaks coldly. "As I told you at the start. You need a teacher."
"I do," she concedes. Skywalker is dead. The books are remote and unhelpful.
"Do you know what it means to be an apprentice?" He doesn't relieve the chill.
She doesn't at all and he gives her the basic framework. "You kneel and swear an oath to give me your complete obedience. You are clay to be molded. I will control your body and mind as I show you how to control the power of the force. You withhold nothing. You may not question."
"I cannot ask questions?" she takes it literally and he shakes his head in frustration. He is trying to drive her away. He is surprised the connection has not broken from his description and his disdain.
"You cannot question my commands. I will act and there will be times you do not understand why. You will carry the commands out without discussion or complaint."
"What if you are mistaken?" she cannot relent. It is her nature. He's a fool for even framing conditions.
"Your choices are so limited, Rey, that you have no other options. My methods will be difficult and harsh. You are warned."
"Will it mean I turn dark?" she asks.
"That is how I use the force. Your efforts will be based on the emotions that fuel your actions. I have no idea if you'll turn, Luke taught me and I still turned. You might stay light, but I make no promises."
She hasn't withdrawn despite his conditions. He seeks to push her further. "I mean it when I tell you I will take full control of your body and mind. It won't be passive lessons floating rocks and hours of meditation. You will hate what I do and make you do in return."
He doesn't push those images at her because her imagination ought to outstrip his intentions. She is crying openly, if silently, now. She's done something that truly terrified her. So much so that even his black offer hasn't severed the contact.
"You know where I am, or your rebel friends can tell you. Come here if you mean it. But be careful as you approach. Ship security will probably blast your vessel out of the sky."
"I can't," she tells him. She releases a vision of her last disastrous ship voyage.
"Poor, poor. Scavenger," he mockingly sooths. He can't see exactly, but around her things are shattering. From her, he knows the walls and ceiling are violently shaking.
He reconsiders. She'll kill herself in this state.
"Tell me where you are," he demands. "I'll ensure you don't destroy the city before I collect you."
The more things crumble around her the less control she has and her fear is now increasing the destruction. She tells him the planet and he sends her under. She collapses in a heap and is knocked down until he comes to her. The imposition locked until he releases. Sleeping beauty, he designates in possibly the kindest thought he's had since she invoked their contact.
He's a fool to do this. He can send troops to collect her, but he commands his ship be made ready. He isn't entirely sure what he'll do next.
The planet is a small outpost it has only 3 city sized communities. His senses guide him to one, unerringly locating the place. He shouldn't be surprised. She would be uncomfortable in a large urban place filled with tall buildings and hardly any sight of the sky. This has a handful of low slung substantial structures and the outer edges of the outpost have the types of pens that allow herds to be brought in for butchering from the open grasslands. Kylo Ren doesn't have to guess where she is. The building is one of the few substantial places and corner of it has sheared away recently into rubble still clogging the street. The windows are all broken and blown out.
His ship proclaims his First Order antecedents. He debates exiting the craft in full regalia. Few know his appearance, but the mask is infamous. If he uses it there will be no doubt who has landed. After weighing the options, he sets the mask aside. Covering his shoulders in a plain black cloak with a hood, he makes his way towards the place. He can feel her shuddered heart slowly beating. Still in the pulse of sleep he has imposed.
Two creatures managing a rough stretcher are carrying her out of the place. They are small, but stocky figures. They think she is injured and are removing her from the place. They do not intend to get her medical assistance. They will return to pillage her room for a valuables. He sends them scurrying. He orders a pair of droids to place her in the ship and goes to her rooms.
Little enough is there. She has never owned much. The books draw his attention and as he picks them up he senses their strengths. As he runs his gloved finger over the spine of one he senses the presence.
"Go away old man," he demands of Luke Skywalker.
"Those do not belong to you," the ghostly image tells him.
"If I leave them here they are lost forever. Rey is in no position to carry them out."
"What are you going to do to her?"
"Teach her the ways of the force, Master Skywalker," he sneers. "Just as I was."
Kylo Ren pushes the phantom out of the room with a hard effort. He takes her bag and shoves the books inside and departs.
A/N Apologies for the slow start. Promise it picks up after this. I needed to get them in the same place at the same time. I am grateful to those who wrote re: my first story posting "Well Tread Territory."