7. REY
'Why...why couldn't this be simple... you and I?'
His last words echo in my mind. The pain in his voice as he said it. It reminded me of the pain I saw in the throne room when he asked me to join him. When he begged me.
'Please.'
I had debated it then. For a moment, I had imagined myself taking his extended hand, joining him, and ruling the Galaxy by his side. The high from the fight, defeating the Praetorian guards together, and seeing Snoke get cut down by a flick of his wrist, made me want it. No one will ever understand me like he does. No one will ever be his equal like I will. Neither of us would ever be alone again. We would live out this life together, bending the Force at our will. We would be unstoppable, him and I.
I close my eyes and the memory of his fingers running down my cheek manifest. His dark eyes taking me in, every inch of me. I could fall in love with him. It would be easy. Every time we meet, in real or by the Force, there is friction. There's a presence to him that no other man possess. I feel it when he leans in, when he towers over me, but especially when he touches me. He tempts me and with each encounter I get closer to a surrender. He has offered to be my teacher, teaching me how to get stronger with the Force, and I want it. He has shown me his body, what he keeps hidden under that dark cloak, and I want it. He has asked me to be with him, the man behind the mask that no one else knows, and I want it.
But Ben is right... it isn't simple... him and I. Every time we meet there is also death and pain. Being with him means deserting everyone else, even myself. I would no longer be just Rey. I would be the of the Dark side of the Force, of the First Order, and of the Supreme Leader. It's too steep of a price. Despite of what I feel and want.
"Unless..." I say out loud; to myself, to the spirits of Takodana, and to the Force.
I hurry to get dressed, grab the saber, and walk towards the sounds of construction. A quick glance back at Paradise is all that I afford before I take off into a sprint. Time all of sudden seem acute. The Force, for some reason, decided to show me his surroundings. He is on Jakku. Why I don't know. I assume for me. To trace my past, to still his curiosity, or thinking that it will give him a upper hand. This is my opportunity. He is away from the First Order and he has abandoned his duty as Supreme Leader. Perhaps I am reading too much into it. It could mean nothing. Or it could mean everything.
After hearing out my plan, Chewie sounds off his disapproval and Maz leaves the room without a room. "Chewie, last time I went to him, he killed Snoke. What will happen this time? He has the power of the Force and the control as Supreme Leader to destroy the First Order. I have to try."
Chewie argue back and what he says is right. Kylo Ren can not be trusted. He killed his own father and he has displayed his ruthlessness countless of times. But Chewie doesn't know everything and I don't plan to tell him. The truth is, I am ashamed. I have feelings for someone who is more Monster than man. If Finn knew, Finn who was slashed and almost killed, what would he say? How could I explain? I can't even make sense of it myself.
"Rey," Maz says as she steps back into the room. In her arms is a big bundle wrapped in a cloth. "Here, take this."
"What is it?"
"Don't ask me how I came to have it. I have been saving it for that special someone. I knew she would come one day. I'm glad it was you."
"What is it, Maz?
"Wear it with confidence, Rey. Wear it with the confidence of a Queen and a Senator, and all that you desire will be yours."
7. KYLO REN
I'm not good with waiting. I'm not good with being patient. I'm not good with not getting what I want. I have always gotten what I want, either by being the General's son or by using the Force. I am not used to being resisted, challenged, or told no... not until I met her.
'I'm not giving you anything.'
'We'll see.'
I had been so confident in my ability. Why wouldn't I be? No one had ever been able to resist me before. I could feel the Force in her, but I never imagined how strong she was. I never imagined that she would be able to enter my mind, see my greatest fear, and make me feel this way. If I had known, would I have killed her there in the woods on Takodana? One slash with my saber and this frustrating weakness never would have been. I wouldn't be stuck here on Jakku, chewing sand, if I had just ended it before it began.
'Please.'
I've never begged before. Never lowered myself to the humiliation. To beg is to show weakness, to disclose a need, and to admit a want. I thought myself above this. I believed myself better. But now all I do is need and want. Truth is, I'll keep begging if that's what it takes. For her, for her to join me and be mine, I'll fall to my knees.
I exit the shuttle and climb onto my hovercraft. It's black sleek and moves like no other. It will stand out, as will I, but I've been hiding long enough. It's time to make my presence known and for me to dig into her past.
My craft shoots off, blasting across the sand, towards the only major settlement on Jakku, the Niima Outpost. Teedos on luggabeasts halt their movement and scavenging to follow me as I race across the scorched badlands. I accelerate, testing the hovercrafts full potential, causing my black robe to whip violently around me. I am not dressed appropriate for the heat, wearing thick wool clothing. As the discomfort builds so does the irritation and fury. I have only been on this planet for half a day and I already wish to obliterate it.
I reach the outpost faster than most but slower than I had wished. Walking inside, I see a long line of scavenger scum in front of a concession stand waiting to sell their collected parts. A scavenger walks past me, mumbling about not enough to survive on, as he looks down at the food ration in his hand. His mind sends me images of the Crolute male standing in the concession stand. The scavenger calls him Blobfish and dreams of his painful death. Perhaps he will get his wish granted today.
Behind the stall bars, the Crolute male sees me and his fishlike features react with recognition. He stumbles out, causing a stir amongst the waiting scavengers. Unkar Plutt, the Junk boss, never leaves the stand. The Crolute specie is of an aquatic nature and the dry sandy conditions of Jakku does not agree with their sensitive skin.
"Lord Ren," he bows, showing his allegiance to me and the First Order. "This is an honor. Please, how can I be of assistance?"
"I am looking for someone. Someone who was left in your care many years ago. Someone who worked directly under you until she became a scavenger."
"She?" Unkar Plott questions and his dry wrinkled face wrinkles even further. He scratches his covered head and asks. "Rey?"
I nod slowly and begin to enter his mind, searching for what I want answered. It is faster to take the answers instead of asking. His deep love for money makes it harder as with all species who value the coin before all other things. But it is not impossible. Especially not for me.
Unkar Plott, feeling my drilling intrusion, cries out and grabs his head. "Stop! I will tell you all I know. She is no longer here. She stole a ship of mine and joined the Rebellion. I have a price on her head, Lord Ren, She will be captured and punished."
I retract from his mind, having seen what I needed to see. Rey was used and abused at the hands of this creature. Worked from dusk till dawn, with mere scraps to eat.
"Your ship?" I ask, my voice building with rage and the need to release my anger becomes imminent. "It was never your ship. The Millennium Falcon is mine. And as for her..." I continue and ignite my saber.
I raise the saber, ready to strike the blow, ready to cut him open and spill his fish guts when...
"BEN! DON'T!"
It's her. She's here. Finally.
