Ben didn't hesitate he reached out with the Force and hurled Hux against the wall as close as he could. Hux bounced off the wall and slumped to the deck out cold. Rey sighed with relief as she felt the blaster leave her skin. She started to run towards the door but stopped when she realized that Ben was not beside her. She turned back around to see him standing next to General Hux with a conflicted look on his face. Rey walked back to him and asked, "Your not thinking about executing him in cold blood are you?"
Ben sighed, "I won't insult you by pretending the idea didn't appeal to me, but even if I want to kill him, I can't."
Rey's brown creased in confusion, "What do you mean you can't?
Ben looked at her, "Rey I just killed the Supreme Leader of the First Order. Do you have any idea of the kind of power vacuum that will leave?"
Rey retorted, "All the more reason for us to get off this ship!"
Ben's eyes lit up, "No you don't understand. A new Supreme Leader will be driven to seek vengeance against the person responsible for killing Snoke. They will hunt them and their followers down and destroy them. Hux saw you close to Snoke. He probably already thinks that you murdered him. If he tells anyone about his suspicions…. Rey…. You have no idea what he will do. He won't just destroy the Resistance. He will make it suffer! He has done things that even Snoke abhorred. He can't be allowed to rule!
Rey was starting to have a decidedly Bad feeling about this. She said softly, "Ben what are you trying to say?"
Ben took a deep breath then let it out with a shudder, "Rey I have to become Supreme Leader."
"No, you said you wanted to leave it all behind! All of it! Let the past die! Those were your words Ben!" Rey shouted tears forming in her eyes.
Ben looked at her sadly, "Rey you know as well as I do that I can't return to the Resistance, and the only person that could take Snoke's place other than Hux is me. I may be a monster, but Hux… is worse.
Rey was angry now. "You think that trading one monster for the another is the answer?!"
Ben's voice rose, "I CAN'T GO BACK THERE REY! You don't know what it was like. From the moment I was born my family predicted greatness from me. I was part of one of the most powerful families in the galaxy and I tried to live up to it! I did everything they ever asked of me! They never once asked me if I wanted to be a Jedi. They never asked me if I wanted to be a leader. It was expected of me! Yet the moment I started to show signs of power, everyone abandoned me. Once I started hearing Snoke in my head…. I felt so alone. It was like there was a darkness inside me that I couldn't control, and Luke… My Uncle, he was more concerned with me becoming a Jedi than the darkness I was feeling inside. He TRIED To KILL ME! After that all I had was the monster. All I am is the monster.
Rey walked up to him until she was right in front of him, "Not to me, Ben."
Ben took off his gloves and threw them to the deck. He gently reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Rey's ear. He looked deep into her eyes then able to resist no longer, he lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. At first he felt terrified, afraid that Rey would reject him, but to his surprise Rey immediately began kissing her back. As their lips moved together. Ben felt the Force flowing between them. It was warm, peaceful, and filled every part of his being with joy. He could see the horrible things he had done as Kylo Ren and once again he wondered how this beautiful girl could stand to be near him yet alone kiss him!
Rey could feel the same energy flowing through her. It was beyond amazing. All her life she had looked for family, for connection. The man kissing her made her feel complete for the first time in her life. The two broke apart and they rested their foreheads against each other. Rey looked up and said, "You felt it too?"
Ben nodded, "Yes I.. I have never felt anything like it. Rey… I want to come with you. I swear."
Rey smiled, "Then come home."
Ben shook his head, "You may except me, but the rest of the galaxy never will, and if I go with you. Hux will reign terror down you and your friends. I have to stay. Not for power. Not because I want to be Kylo Ren, but because it's the only way to save you. He leaned down and kissed her again. This time it felt like he was pouring everything he had into a single kiss. In Rey's mind she could see glimpses of them in the future. The two stood side by side both holding glowing blue blades against opponents she could not see. The scene changed and she could see Ben and her on some planet filled with trees and rivers and lakes. The two were curled up together on the lakefront. She could feel the contentment. the love?
Ben broke away again and said, "It's not just Hux Rey. I can sense it in the Force. I need to stay here. I don't understand why, but I see only darkness if I leave with you. I can see a future for us..but only if I stay here.
Rey smiled sadly, "I felt it too. Our future.. I don't want to lose it."
Ben smiled for the first time in ages. A real smile, "Then do what a true Jedi does.. Trust the Force."
Rey nodded sadly and the two shared one last kiss. Then Rey raced to the elevator. As she disappeared from view. Ben turned to face Hux. Well this should be interesting. He thought to himself.
