Chapter 7 – Negotiations
Rey takes a second to clear her mind as Ben waits for her outside the shuttle. I think you can wait a second longer, Rey thinks back to Ben. She can feel the impatience wafting off Ben as she takes a deep breath and opens the door to the shuttle. The ramp hits the ground and Rey begins to walk down towards Ben who is facing away from the shuttle. Rey stops to stare at his figure before he turns around.
"Well, are you coming or am I going to have to come up there and-", Ben says as he turns around to face Rey, but he cannot find the remaining words in his sentence once he sees Rey in person. Kriff. She looks so gorgeous. Is she wearing makeup? Wait, is she wearing earrings…? How do I know those earrings…? She looks great in earrings. Ben thinks to himself blocking his thoughts from Rey as she walks down the ramp effortlessly and stands in front of Ben.
"No, that will not be necessary Supreme Leader Ren. I am quite capable of walking without your assistance". They continue to stare for a second and then Rey breaks the silence. "Well, are you going to stand there and stare or can we begin our dinner meeting", Rey says raising an eyebrow at Ben.
"I might just have to keep staring. You look beautiful. It's not something I would have picked if I were getting ready to surrender to the First Order. It seems like you are here for something maybe a bit more exciting?" Ben asks as he looks at her up and down.
"It seems you dressed the part of someone ready to surrender as well. Maybe we should just surrender to each other now and enjoy the evening without these clothes on", Rey suggests running her hands up Ben's arms briefly before coming to rest on his forearms.
"I thought you came to negotiate on behalf of the Resistance?", Ben asks breathlessly from Rey's touch.
"Ah, you're right. Well, let's begin our negotiations then", Rey says pulling her hands away from Ben's arms and looking away.
"Alright", Ben says as he holds out his arm towards Rey.
She hesitates slightly before taking his arm and letting him guide her thru an archway off the side of the landing pad which leads down to a large paved patio. Rey gasps quietly as she takes in the view of Tarykino. The lake appears to be never ending as the sun begins to cast its warm glow from the sunset across the water. On the patio, Rey smiles when she sees a small table sitting under a rose filled trellis overlooking the lake. A large lake house sits right off the patio with its doors and windows open to let in the breeze that lights blows off the lake. Rey looks up and sees small lights strung thru the trellis lighting the patio start to glow brighter as sun sets across the lake. Rey forgets for a moment that she is here with her enemy and instead glances at Ben with a genuine smile of happiness. For a second, she thinks he returns the smile but then sees it was just the light playing tricks.
Ben continues to guide them across the large patio, which is at least four times bigger than Rey's room back on Cloud City she thinks to herself. The table has fruit and bread with wine chilling in a bucket. Rey removes her arm as she moves to unclasp her cape. Ben helps place it on the chair and Rey can sense him checking out her body. Rey smirks as she turns to face him and attempts to enter his mind, but he blocks her quickly.
"Nice try, Scavenger", Ben says as he pulls her chair out and then pushes it under her as she sits down.
"It was worth a shot", she says shrugging.
Ben grazes his fingers against the back of her shoulder as he walks by her seat, which causes Rey to shiver from his touch. Ben smiles at her reaction as he sits down next to her at the table. Rey tries to focus on the task at hand, the negotiations, however seeing Ben in person makes her stomach flip around nervously.
"It's beautiful here", Rey says opening the conversation as she looks towards the lake with the sun slowly setting over the water.
"Yes, it is beautiful", Ben says looking at Rey.
"I wonder why Leia picked this spot", Rey says making small talk.
"We don't have to make small talk", Ben says waving his hand.
Rey ignores him and continues speaking. "I guess it's a good thing your old Starkiller base didn't destroy Naboo huh?", Rey asks in a taunting voice looking back at Ben.
Ben clinches his jaw. "It wasn't my Starkiller base and I didn't order the Hosnian system to be destroyed", Ben says defensively.
"You were with the First Order during that time; you watched it happen did you not? Aren't you the mighty Kylo Ren, First Order Warrior and now the Supreme Leader? I think by default the destruction of the Hosnian system will be associated with you regardless of who made the call for its destruction", Rey says placing her napkin in her lap.
Ben watches her across the table. He knows she is pushing his buttons on purpose with her words, so he chooses to be silent.
"It's a pity you know. The Galaxy will know you as a murderer and a destroyer of planets. But if you gave it all up, the First Order and being Supreme Leader, then maybe you could be known as a hero instead", Rey suggests.
Ben continues to stare blankly at Rey as she waits for Ben to respond to her taunts. Nothing happens. She switches her tactics when he remains quiet and reaches across the table taking Ben's hand in her own. "Come with me Ben. Come home with me and you will never be lonely again. We could go anywhere in the Galaxy. We could spend every day together happily. Some days we could stay in bed all day. What do you think?", Rey says to Ben with a small smile.
Ben wants to say yes to Rey. He opens his mouth to agree and imagines picking her up and carrying her to the lake house behind them. He can imagine them living happily together in the lake house and having a family. But a voice inside tells him to kill her right then and there. He removes his hand from her grasp and picks up the bottle of wine to pour them each a glass. Rey continues to stare at Ben waiting for an answer to her offer. She is tempted to give up and leave him sitting here quietly alone, but she stays in her seat. A voice inside her says to wait it out and Ben will come around. She listens to the voice and resolves to be patient.
As Ben's silence continues to stretch into minutes though, her frustration builds until finally she cannot keep quiet any longer. "It must be hard", she says looking at Ben thru her lashes. Ben looks up at her with eyebrows raised waiting for her to finish her thought. "Being Supreme Leader. It must be hard doing a job you don't want to do", Rey says finally.
Ben sucks air thru his teeth at hearing Rey's words and he cannot keep quiet any longer. "It must be hard for you to pretend to be a Jedi when you have only had about a week of training, which you stole from me", Ben spits back at her.
"Ah, so you do hate being the Supreme Leader. I knew it" Rey says as she sits back in her chair watching Ben's face flush from the realization of him answering her without actually saying the words. "If you hate it that much, then come with me. You don't have to be Supreme Leader", Rey says as she attempts to reach out to Ben's hand, but he pulls away and stands up next to the table in one move.
"Enough Rey", Ben says in a gruff voice.
"No. Enough games, Ben. I know you care about me. Why can't you admit that there is something between us? Why do you need to be Supreme Leader?", Rey says not looking at Ben.
"I said enough Rey!", Ben says as he brings his fists down onto the table. The table shakes and glasses clink against plates.
Rey looks at Ben and her expression hardens. She will not give up on this topic. Ben runs a hand thru his hair as he composes himself and picks up his wine. Rey notices his hand shake slightly as he lifts the glass to his mouth.
"Fine", she replies. Rey stands up and grabs her wine glass from the table before walking to the edge of the patio. She places her elbows on the marble banister and looks out over the lake.
Ben stares at Rey's silhouette against the background of the sunset and thinks about how much of an idiot he is for not agreeing to be with her the moment she stepped off the shuttle. Why do I have to be so difficult? he thinks to himself. He walks over and joins Rey at the edge of the patio, leaning his backside against the banister.
"Rey, I'm sorry for raising my voice", Ben says without looking at her. "This isn't going to have a happy ending. We cannot be together. You are a Jedi and I am the Supreme Leader of the First Order. I am literally your mortal enemy. We are supposed to want to kill each other", Ben says shaking his head.
"Oh, I still want to kill you", Rey says with a laugh.
"Yeah, how do you plan to do that without a lightsaber", Ben says smirking.
Rey says nothing as she looks back at the sunset. "I am not playing games with you Ben. I told you what I want. Your mother sent me to bring you home. She loves you and wants you to come home. We know it's hard for you to understand, but you would be welcomed back-" Rey says and before she can speak further Ben cuts her off.
"Rey, stop. Why would I give up leading the largest fleet in the galaxy? Do you think I want to return to my Mother now? She sent me to go learn how to be a Jedi from my Uncle who then tried to kill me in my sleep. This isn't something I will give up just because my mother says I need to come home. I am not a child", Ben replies. "Besides, the First Order is about to destroy Leia and the Resistance. You are here with me and I do not have to hold the cease fire any longer.", Ben says turning to face Rey. "You have lost Rey. After dinner, I plan to contact General Peavey and order every ship in my fleet to fire on Bespin. The Resistance will be destroyed, and you will have nobody except me in the Galaxy except for me", Ben says in a serious tone.
Rey tries to read his mind to see if he is just bluffing. Ben feels her prod at the barrier, which he lets down just enough for her to see that he is dead serious with this plan.
"I don't believe that after everything you would kill your own mother. You know I will never forgive you if you killed my friends. Your mother is like family to me. I won't let you kill her", Rey says stepping away from the banister.
"The Resistance is already dead. They aren't even a threat to the First Order anymore. Regardless, they will be destroyed", Ben says pointing to the shuttles as if the Resistance were right there.
"You're wrong", Rey says smiling as she shakes her head. "Right now, across the Galaxy, the Resistance is growing. Yes, you have the original group of Resistance fighters that escaped Crait surrounded on Bespin, however at this very second our numbers are growing exponentially across the Galaxy. You must feel the threat growing or you wouldn't be so adamant about destroying them right now", Rey says pausing briefly. "Do you want to know why the Resistance is growing so quickly?", she asks.
Ben gestures for her to continue speaking.
"Because of your little scene on Crait with Luke. There have been communiques and Holos going out to every system and planet since we escaped Crait. Most of the major systems and planets, like Canto Bight, have heard about how you were distracted by a ghost while the Resistance escaped from Crait", Rey says pacing in front of Ben not taking her eyes off him. "That doesn't look so good for the First Order or you as their Supreme Leader. The Galaxy doesn't want to side with someone who will be fooled by a ghost", Rey says as she stopes pacing in front of Ben. "The First Order is being destroyed from the inside out, thanks to General Hux sending out those Holo's of you. You are leading an organization that will implode from the inside out. You may have just reorganized your leadership this morning, but more of your men will rise against you. The Resistance is coming, and you will fail as Supreme Leader. Your only hope is to surrender and come home. We don't need the First Order and you don't have to die", Rey says holding out her hands to Ben.
Ben laughs and shakes his head at Rey. "You want me to just lay down my lightsaber and give up because you're telling me this ridiculous story about how the Resistance is growing in the last 2 days? Rey, that's ridiculous. If that is all you came to discuss then you might as well have a nice dinner and prepare to watch your friends die", Ben says as he returns to the table and grabs a piece of bread which he takes a bite before gesturing to the empty seat.
"You can believe whatever you like. My trust is with your mother and the Resistance", Rey says as she sits back down and grabs bread of her own and places it on her plate.
Ben scoffs.
"You already know what I want. I have been honest. I want you Ben Solo. Now, what are your terms for negotiation, Supreme Leader Ren?" Rey asks formally.
"Join me and I will spare your friends. They can evacuate to a remote planet and live out their days in peace without interference from me or the First Order. This includes Leia. I will not hunt them down and the First Order will leave them alone as long as the Resistance name dies for good", Ben says seriously.
Rey stares at Ben before shaking her head. "We are asking for the same thing. You want me to join you. I want you to join me. And you thought negotiations would be short tonight?", Rey scoffs as she takes a bite of her bread.
"Well Scavenger, what is your response?", Ben asks.
Rey says nothing as she stares at Ben in shock.
"Why are you so surprised by my terms? I told you three days ago. You either join me or your friends would die. I never changed my mind. I agreed to meet you here for dinner so you couldn't run away or block me out of a force connection for the rest of your life. You and your friends will die, or you will join me. You have no weapon, whereas I have mine. These negotiations are over. You must decide now", Ben says confidently.
When Rey says nothing, Ben stands up and moves to the side of the table unclipping his lightsaber from his belt and holding the hilt in his hands. "Decide, Rey", Ben says forcefully.
Rey eyes his lightsaber briefly before she stands up in front of Ben. Her heart hammers inside her chest as she considers his offer. Ben gulps down his fear of rejection as he stands in front of Rey holding his lightsaber.
Finally, Rey speaks. "You aren't going to kill me or my friends. You especially will not kill your mother. You had a chance to kill me and Leia and you choked both times".
"You don't sound so certain, Scavenger", Ben says gritting his teeth.
"I am certain", Rey says raising her voice. She can feel the force thickening around her and Ben as the sun sets over the lake. The lights in the trellis cast shadows on the ground as she takes two steps back from Ben putting space between her and his unlit lightsaber. "Do you want to hear a fun fact about your Grandfather?" Rey says. She watches as Ben's face hardens at the mention of his Grandfather. Rey doesn't wait for his response. "Anakin didn't care about politics", Rey says taking two small steps back from Ben. She notes that he won't be able to strike her without taking a few steps forward as she continues speaking. "Anakin argued with your Grandmother about what was right for the galaxy, yet he didn't actually care about ruling the Galaxy when he married Padme in that very spot", Rey says pointing to place where they were just standing moments ago. "Anakin loved Padme. Anakin broke Jedi rules to marry Padme because he wanted to have both her love and the Jedi Order in his life. He didn't turn to the dark side because he wanted to rule the galaxy. He was fooled into turning to the darkside by Palpatine. Just like you were fooled into it by Snoke. Anakin thought that if he learned the dark side, that he could save his wife and unborn child. That is why he turned away from the Jedi. You went looking for someone to care for you and you got nothing in return from Snoke. I care about you Ben, I am here for you", Rey says loudly.
Ben continues to hold his lightsaber in hand while staring at Rey. He is impressed with how she could know this information and realizes that Leia must have taught Rey about the Skywalker family before she arrived. He looks down at his lightsaber and then back at Rey as she takes another small step back from Ben.
"Anakin redeemed himself to save his children from Palpatine. You can still redeem yourself. You are not alone. I am right here", Rey says pointing to herself.
Ben hesitates and turns the hilt of the lightsaber in his hand.
"I know you don't want to be Supreme Leader. I can sense the regret and the fear with having to go back to the Finalizer II. You feel trapped. I don't want to trap you Ben. I am not asking for you to be my prisoner. You already know I was a prisoner on Jakku for years. I do not want that for you or myself. But, if you refuse to join me, then you give me no choice but to fight for my freedom", Rey says extending her hand to Ben one last time. "Please, join me", Rey says quietly.
Ben looks up at Rey with sadness in his eyes and then a flicker of anger. The anger builds until it is hanging in the air around Ben. The hope Rey has that Ben will join her fades with every passing second that Ben is silent. She can feel the internal battle raging inside of Ben as he considers his options. She feels the force urging her to reach for her lightsaber, but she is patient. Her heart sinks as she senses he makes his choice to fight. She has no choice but to duel Ben before he calls his General to order the attack on Bespin.
Ben watches Rey as she examines him. Ben can sense Rey's unwavering commitment to the light, yet Ben is confused. How can she have such dark thoughts about us being together but be so bound to the light, he wonders to himself. She is unlike anything he has ever gone up against before. He is certain that she will not join him with the First Order. However, why would he give up leading the largest fleet for a girl from Jakku? That would be foolish, he thinks to himself. Besides, she has no weapon. Why should I be afraid? She should be afraid of me. Ben opens his mind to her and says to her thru the connection, "the only way out of here is to join me, Rey."
Rey speaks out loud to this silent question. "My answer is no. I will not join you in darkness. I will not surrender the Resistance only to end up being your prisoner. I will not be your slave or your route to ultimate power in the galaxy", Rey says standing tall.
"Then you have given me no other choice", Ben says sadly as he ignites his lightsaber.
"I think you will learn there is always another choice that could be made", Rey replies.
Rey feels the force flow thru her, and time seems to slow down as she watches Ben flourish his lightsaber in a circle to the side of his body. Rey uses this to her advantage. She extends her right arm out and flicks her wrist in one smooth movement. Within seconds, her faux skirt unfastens and lands on her chair just as her lightsaber floats to her hand effortlessly. The blade hums to life as soon as the hilt lands in her palm and Rey stares fiercely at Ben ready for his attack.
Ben stops in his tracks as the unexpected lightsaber is exposed. Rey has the element of surprise and uses it to her advantage as Ben looks back and forth between the dark blue blade and Rey's face. "This is your last chance. Throw down your weapon and surrender or you will be destroyed", Rey says confidently.
"If you want to save Ben Solo so badly, then come and get him, Scavenger", Ben says. Before Rey can respond, Ben takes two large steps forward and slams his red blade into her blue one. The blades clash and throw red and blue lights across the patio as the sun as finally set in Varykino. As the duel begins, Ben silently how much stronger Rey has become since their last duel on Starkiller. While he is lost in thought, Ben almost misses a block as Rey swipes her blade across his torso. He can feel the heat from the blade as it narrowly misses his chest forcing him to take a few steps back. He looks up at Rey who doesn't flinch or show signs of concern.
"Ben Solo, you will be mine", Rey says as she continues her assault forward.
"I don't think so Rey", Ben says as he blocks her attacks and then begins to push Rey back with faster and more wild thrusts of his lightsaber.
They narrowly miss a wooden beam of the trellis as they dance around the patio. Rey doesn't want to destroy this beautiful place that means so much to Leia's family, but she remembers Leia's words to do what is necessary. Minutes pass and Ben's breath becomes heavier. Rey does not show she is tired as she continues to let the force carry and guide her in this duel.
As Ben senses Rey's strength is not faltering, he smiles at her thru the glow of their lightsabers. "Save your energy sweetheart. Once we are finished playing games then we can have some real fun", Ben taunts.
"This isn't going to help you win", Rey says evenly.
"What won't?", Ben says as their blades lock crisscrossed in front of them. Ben and Rey each push harder towards the each other until they are inches away from one another.
"The flirting. You are trying to distract me. You do this when you feel threatened. For example, when you were threatened by Poe's attraction to me on the Falcon thru the force connection. You feel threatened now. Good. You will lose this battle Kylo Ren" Rey says as she quickly delivers a kick in the abdomen pushing his body away from hers so she can pull her lightsaber away from him.
Ben steps back and places a hand where the heel of her shoe hit his ribcage. "If my ribs are broken you will pay for that", Ben says pointing his lightsaber at her face.
"C'mon. A few broken ribs will be nothing compared to your broken heart when I win this fight", Rey taunts back at him.
Ben's anger begins to boil over. She is beating him, again. How can she be so powerful when he has trained almost his entire life with the dark side? How can she so closely walk the line to darkness but not be taken over? He feels so angry that she has friends and his mother to support her while he has nobody. He cannot let her win. Not like this. Ben embraces his anger as he lets out a yell and begins to sprint towards Rey with his lightsaber held in both hands above his head. Enough, he thinks to himself.
Rey closes her eyes briefly and takes a deep breath letting the force slow down the moment. She analyzes Ben's movement and lets him take a step closer before making her move. As Ben's lightsaber begins to slice down narrowly missing Rey's head and torso by inches, Rey turns and pushes the force thru her body as she delivers a kick to the square of Ben's back. Rey watches as Ben flies across the patio and lands hard against the concrete floor with a crack, while Ben's lightsaber deactivates and slides across the patio landing in the bushes near the lake house. Rey stands as she watches for any movements from Ben before approaching. She reaches out with the force and confirms he is unconscious as a result of the fall. As she walks over to Ben, she deactivates her lightsaber and turns Ben over onto his back. She examines his head and sees a shallow cut to the top left of his forehead. She shakes her head as she can sense his anger slowly subsiding as he sleeps, but she knows he won't be out for long. She stands up and calls Ben's lightsaber to her hand easily from the bushes as she walks to the table. She places both lightsabers on the table away as she sips her wine. "You should have negotiated with me, Kylo Ren", Rey says out loud as she finishes her glass of wine.
Rey pours herself another glass as she considers reactivating her lightsaber and finishing him right there on the patio. A voice deep within her says to finish him, while a stronger voice says to be patient with Ben. She agrees with the latter voice and as she resolves to be patient, a movement from the house catches her eye.
A droid, spherical like BB-8, but colored gray and teal comes rolls out to Ben's figure and then beeps questioningly at Rey wanting to know what happened.
Rey looks at the droid and thinks it must be here to help with the dinner. "I'm afraid there was an accident. Do you know this man?" she asks the droid curiously.
The droid responds to Rey and confirms Ben Solo is its Master. Rey curiously thinks to herself how odd that the droid would know Ben by his given name and not by Kylo Ren. Surely, this droid is from the First Order.
"I'm Rey, what is your name?", Rey asks the droid as she squats down by Ben.
The droid beeps a reply in happy tones.
"JL-12, it's nice to meet you", Rey replies with a smile.
The droid warms up to Rey instantly and begins to explain with high pitched beeps and whistles how Master Solo recently purchased the droid from the Queen of Naboo. JL-12 was tasked to help with dinner and any other requests at Ben's lake house in Varykino.
Rey looks at the droid in confusion. "What do you mean, Ben's lake house, JL-12?" Rey asks.
The droid beeps at her again confirming Ben purchased the house, JL-12, clothing, food, and other provisions only hours before arriving today.
Rey stares at the droid trying to make sense of everything before JL-12 insists on tending to Ben's wounds. She stands up and walks back to the table as JL-12 provides first aid. JL-12 confirms Ben has a slight concussion from the impact to his head, but he will make a full recovery within the next few days.
Rey breathes a sigh of relief and thanks JL-12 for its assistance. The droid indicates it will bring out dinner as Ben will likely be waking up shortly. Rey agrees and thanks the droid for its help. Rey moves to sit down at the table, but seeing Ben incapacitated on the ground, she considers a new plan. Rey calls for the droid and requests rope and binders be brought out to the table. The droid follows orders and when it returns with rope, Rey requests the droid stay in the lake house until back out called by Rey.
JL-12 beeps understanding and returns to the house.
Rey walks over to Ben and extends her hand out using the force to lift his body easily and placing him gently in his chair at the table. Once he is sitting, she works quickly with the rope typing him tightly against the chair frame so he doesn't fall, and so he cannot escape. She fastens the binders to his hands to secure the ropes. She tests the restraints and feels they are tight enough considering he may be weak once he wakes back up. Rey gently moves hair out of Ben's face and waits patiently as his eyes begin to flutter awake. Ben opens his eyes and looks from his torso to his chest and then around him before he makes eye contact with Rey. She senses his anger and his confusion as to why he is tied up. Ben tests the restraints and sucks in air as his skin burns from the rope twisting against his skin.
"Good. Your awake. Now, it's my turn to interrogate you", Rey says thru the force bond as she smiles at him mischievously from across the table.
