Kylo Ren had come back to the light. He'd flown to the base one morning, exiting the ship with his hands up in surrender. He'd claimed to be done with Snoke, done with the First Order. He said he wanted to come home. He said he'd finally given in, that the call to the light was stronger than the darkness. After a long talk with Master Luke, he'd been allowed to stay.
"He's telling the truth," Luke had told the General.
"So you think he can be trusted?" General Organa asked. Her face was impassive and stony but she couldn't hide the hope in her voice. She desperately wanted to believe her son.
"I didn't say that," Luke cautioned his sister. "The dark side of the force is like an addiction, it's easy to be drawn back in. He means what he says for now but that doesn't mean it won't change."
Leia frowned. "Then what should we do? He's my son, I can't just send him away. That might be all it takes to send him back to Snoke."
"It's hard to say," Luke admitted. "Maybe we should let him stay but we'll have to watch him closely. At least until he proves himself. Rey and I will move our training here, so I can help keep an eye on him."
Rey, who had been quietly observing up to this point, was indignant. "You two are just going to let him stay here? After all he's done? One little apology and all is forgiven?" She was beginning to yell. "Have you forgotten about Han? About Finn? He's still in a coma because of that monster."
Luke was calm, as usual. "Rey, it's our duty to help him. It's true, he's done terrible things. But if he were to truly come back to the light, if he were to help fight the First Order, just think of all the good he could do."
"You do what you want. I won't have anything to do with him." Rey crossed her arms, daring Luke to challenge her. The Jedi only smiled.
"I think that will prove difficult since he's going to be training with us," he said.
Rey couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Training with us? Why the hell would he train with us?"
"It'll be good for him," Luke insisted. "And if he's training with us all day, I'll be able to keep an eye on him."
Rey turned to the general. "General Organa," she pleaded. "If Kylo is staying here, it should be in a cell. You can't just let him walk free!"
Leia sighed. "There's no easy answer, Rey. If he wants to change, I think he should be given a chance." She walked over to Rey and placed a hand on her shoulder. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Han is gone, nothing is going to bring him back. But my son is alive. If there is a chance that he could come home for good, Rey, I have to take that chance."
Rey felt guilty. The general had been hurt the most by Kylo Ren, yet she still had faith in him. She believed he could change. The least Rey could do was try. But that didn't mean she had to like it. "Fine," she said. "I'll train with him but I don't trust him. I don't think he'll stay but I'll do all I can to help. I promise."
Leia nodded. "That's all I can ask of you, Rey."
Suddenly, Poe Dameron walked into the room. "General Organa," he said. "Kyl..Be..I mean, your son is on his way to see you."
Leia's eyes went wide. "Oh, um, send him in I guess."
Luke gently grabbed Rey's arm. "Come on Rey, we'll give them some privacy."
Rey glanced back at the general, before following her master out.
"Master," she said once they had left. "If you don't mind, I think I'll go visit Finn for a little while."
"Of course," said Luke. "I'll come find you later."
Rey nodded, then headed in the direction of the infirmary. Finn was in his usual spot, lying perfectly still in his bed.
"How's he doing?" she asked the nearest doctor.
"He seemed a little more responsive today," she said with a smile. "I don't think it will be too much longer before he wakes up."
The doctor walked away, leaving Rey and Finn alone. Rey reached out and grabbed Finn's limp hand. "I don't know if you've heard," she whispered. "But he's here. I promised the general I'd help keep an eye on him." She looked down at Finn's sleeping face. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to handle it. I don't know how I'm going to look at his face every day." She sighed. "But I promised General Organa. You should see her, Finn. She's got so much hope. I don't think I've ever seen her so happy." Rey reached down and fluffed Finn's pillow. "I just hope it doesn't all end badly for her. If it does, if he hurts her, I just may have to kill him myself."
