On Your Side
Prologue: Plans in Motion
"Where are they now?"
Rey's apparition sits cross-legged on a matte black table in his quarters. She speaks sternly, but with genuine curiosity.
"They?"
"Master Luke said on that night, you took a handful of students with you…and slaughtered the rest." Her eyes don't leave the back of his head. She realizes that she is being quite aggressive, but she is desperate. "Where are they?"
"That is none of your concern." Kylo replies in such a low tone that it is almost inaudible, even in the silence of their own world.
Even though they tried to fight it after the battle on Crait, the Force Bonds still connect Rey and Kylo Ren from time to time. It is still a phenomenon to the two Force users, but now they sure this is not Snoke's doing. Most of these meetings are wordless, with both sides anxiously waiting to get back to their duties.
But occasionally, someone has an agenda.
Kylo Ren turns to face the young rebel, whose taupe robes standout against the darkness surrounding them. He slowly approaches her with heavy steps. "Let go of that pathetic idea of yours. Not every Force-sensitive in the galaxy is going to dedicate their lives to the rebellion."
"But there will be some." She doesn't bother to hide her plans from him. Just as he's seen her propose a search for the next generation of Jedi, she has seen the existence of Luke's remaining padawans in Kylo's thoughts. "If those padawans aren't by your side now, then I've got a chance, don't I?"
She strikes a chord. Kylo's expression grows darker, with furrowed brows and a piercing glare in Rey's direction. However, his unraveling anger leaves him vulnerable.
"You cared for them." Rey breathes, seeing flashes of a young Ben Solo instructing a group of younglings. She's stares in Kylo's direction in a daze, but is simply in wonder by the vision. Rey sees his smile. She hears his laughter.
The glimmer in Rey's eyes sickens the brooding man. Kylo thrashes his right arm out, summoning a saber into his grasp. Rey is startled back into reality as Kylo runs at her in a fury.
"GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!" Kylo rages, lifting the heavy, crackling lightsaber over his head. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
Kylo doesn't even catch a moment to savor the fear on Rey's face. The connection severs as a red beam slices through the table where her figure once was.
He pants heavily as beads of sweat drip past his crazed eyes. Bulging veins spread across the surface of his skin, a rush of hot lava flowing through them.
Light or Dark, they are always on my side.